Ethan Nwaneri has got off to the perfect start in his loan spell at Marseille - after joining the Ligue 1 club from Arsenal until the end of the season.
22:20, 24 Jan 2026
Ethan Nwaneri taking the ball.
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Ethan Nwaneri has impressed already at Marseille on loan from Arsenal.(Image: AP)
Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri has seen his loan spell at Marseille get off to the perfect start after scoring 13 minutes into his debut.
Nwaneri signed for the Ligue 1 side on Friday after struggling for game-time under Gunners boss, Mikel Arteta, this season. football.london understands that Arsenal were initially reluctant to offload him until Marseille entered the race for his signature.
The 18-year-old had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace, Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United. It's understood that the Hammers had a loan proposal rejected earlier this month.
Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund were also keen. However, Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi and Arteta, who are believed to have spoken directly about the teenager, understand that they share many similar footballing principles.
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And the Englishman has already made an impact for De Zerbi's team with a fine finish from the edge of the box early in the second half against Lens. Saturday's French top-flight fixture could be billed as a crucial match in the Ligue 1 title race.
Third-placed Marseille will go five points behind second-placed Lens with a win and seven off leaders Paris Saint-Germain. De Zerbi's men have provided plenty of entertainment this season with a league-leading 44 goals so far, and Nwaneri has already begun to fit into their entertaining style.
Many Gunners fans have questioned whether the young star could have been kept as a back-up option - with Arsenal going strong on four fronts so far this season. But when asked about Nwaneri's future in north London - Arteta previously admitted that a player of his quality needed more minutes.
He said: "Talented players need to have minutes and Ethan in this case wasn't having enough minutes.
Mikel Arteta and Ethan Nwaneri speak in training.
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken about Ethan Nwaneri's opportunity.(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
"The last thing I want to do is cut his development, because he's such a talent."
football.london understands that, during transfer talks, the French giants indicated a willingness to shell out a hefty loan fee, reckoned to be in the region of £2million - contingent on appearances and performance-related conditions.
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Despite parting ways with Nwaneri, it is understood that he is still held in high esteem by the club, with a strong belief that he will eventually establish himself as a regular fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
Nwaneri's exit is the second deal Arsenal have completed this window. Youngster, Louie Copley, left for League Two side Crawley Town on loan until the end of the season at the beginning of the window.
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