Arsenal attacking midfielder Ethan Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan during the January transfer but the French giants are now embroiled in crisis
10:24, 16 Feb 2026
Ethan Nwaneri
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Ethan Nwaneri was an unused sub on Saturday as Marseille drew with Strasbourg
Former France women international Laure Boulleau has claimed Marseille should conduct an internal review of their recruitment model following the loan signing of Arsenal teenager Ethan Nwaneri.
The 39-year-old pundit has offered a damning assessment of the deal after Nwaneri was an unused substitute in Saturday's 2-2 Ligue 1 draw against Strasbourg.
OM sporting director Mehdi Benatia has since stepped down from his position amid growing fan tension.
Boulleau feels Roberto De Zerbi's exit, just weeks after Nwaneri joined the club to work with the Italian, is a bad look for their transfer strategy.
She told TV show Canal Football Club: "I think it's better to recruit within a club project and a unique playing identity, rather than constantly ending up with 15 players who no longer play in the same system, with too many defenders or not enough midfielders.
"Beyond that, they also need to rethink their recruitment strategy. Nwaneri just arrived, apparently he only came because of Roberto De Zerbi. Two weeks later, he no longer has the coach he came for. I think there are things that need to be reviewed."
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Nwaneri got off to a dream start at the Stade Velodrome, netting just 13 minutes into his debut against league leaders Lens. However, since then, his minutes have drastically been reduced.
Arsenal were not able to consider recalling the teenager from his loan in light of Mikel Merino's injury as there was no break clause included within the initial agreement.
Despite the turmoil in France, the Gunners remain optimistic that Nwaneri will get playing time between now and the end of the season.
Speaking after the 1-1 Premier League draw at Brentford, Mikel Arteta defended the decision to loan Nwaneri to France even though he's since lost Kai Havertz to a muscle injury.
Laure Boulleau
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Canal Plus's Laure Boulleau feels Marseille need to review their recruitment policy
Arteta said: “It’s easy to say in hindsight. When the decision was made, no one could have predicted that Mikel would be out for five months and the same with Kai.
“It is unfortunate, but ultimately we have to make decisions based on the situation here and now, with an understanding of the context we are in, and what is best for the club and for Ethan.
“For him, it was clearly the right decision to go out and experience a different environment, get playing time and get ready to return to us.”
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Nwaneri will definitely return to Arsenal in the summer as the Gunners were not willing to negotiate a permanent transfer clause within the loan deal.
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