Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri has played just 515 minutes this season, prompting speculation he could depart the Gunners on loan during the January transfer window
Ryan Taylor
14:20, 14 Jan 2026
Ethan Nwaneri
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Ethan Nwaneri signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal last summer(Image: )
West Ham are among a list of clubs to have seen advances for Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri rebuffed so far this month.
The talented 18-year-old has made just four starts for the Gunners in all competitions this term despite penning a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium last August.
Nwaneri played 69 minutes of Arsenal's 4-1 FA Cup third-round victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday and impressed, displaying admirable technical and physical sharpness given his lack of playing time.
Mikel Arteta has largely remained coy on Nwaneri's future - or the prospect of the teenager departing the club on loan during the January transfer window - during press conferences over the course of the past month.
However, speaking ahead of the dramatic 3-2 triumph at Bournemouth on January 3, the Spaniard hinted he had little interest in weakening his title-chasing squad, explaining: "Every player is very important, every player has a role. That role can change throughout the season for different reasons and everybody has to be ready to play."
football.London understands that despite a lack of activity, Arsenal have received interest in Nwaneri this winter which so far has amounted to nothing because the Gunners do not necessarily deem a loan essential.
West Ham were keen to explore the possibility of taking the England U21 starlet on loan for the remainder of the season but discussions - both with their London counterparts and the player's camp - failed to bear fruit.
It's understood the Hammers were not alone either as there have been further enquiries from both the Premier League and overseas.
Nwaneri has also frequently been linked with a loan switch to Bournemouth, however, Cherries sources have continued to downplay talk they are chasing the versatile attacker.
That could obviously change between now and the end of the window following Justin Kluivert's knee injury but the current state of play is that Nwaneri is far more likely to stay put with Arsenal this month than to head elsewhere.
Given the Gunners are still challenging on all fronts, there's internal belief that they will need to call upon the entirety of their squad to remain competitive between now and the end of the season as Arsenal arguably know better than anyone how much injuries can change the picture within a short space of time.
Ethan Nwaneri
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Ethan Nwaneri has made just four starts for Arsenal this season but a loan is not deemed a necessity this month(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Additionally, Nwaneri is continuing to shadow two of arguably the best attack-minded midfielders in all of European football in Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze and while senior minutes have proven hard to come by at various stages of the campaign, he is still sharpening his tools and improving every day on the training field.
Phil Foden endured a similar transitional period when he started to knock on the first-team door at Manchester City during a time when Arteta formed part of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at the Etihad Stadium.
Sceptics persistently felt he was being held back but upon reflection, Guardiola handled his development expertly.
Hale End academy graduate Nwaneri also declared upon signing his new contract last summer that there was "no better place" for his development than Arsenal following his stunning breakthrough season under Arteta in which he netted nine goals in all competitions.
Arteta also paid tribute to Nwaneri last weekend following his promising cameo against Pompey, stating: "He deserved that. Because of the strength of the squad and the players that are in the positions, he hasn't been able to play. Today he's done it, and I think he had some very good minutes."
While the landscape can change quickly during the transfer window, the current thinking is that Nwaneri could still have a big part to play in Arsenal's season.
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