Loan ranger: Ethan Nwaneri
Arsenal Football Newsletter
Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri has been told what he must improve upon as he struggles for game time on loan at Marseille.
The Gunners’ wonderkid was shipped out to France in January after Mikel Arteta identified then-manager Roberto De Zerbi as the perfect man to coax the best out of the underused teenager.
However, De Zerbi departed the Orange Velodrome in February, and has been replaced by Habib Beye, with whom Nwaneri has found minutes harder to come by.
Nwaneri, 19, started and scored on his Marseille debut under De Zerbi, but he has not started a single match under Beye.
He has played seven games in Ligue 1 this term, scoring twice.
He starred over the recent international break, notching a break in England Under-21s’ 4-1 victory over Moldova.
Nwaneri profited from Mason Greenwood’s injury in the first half against Lille last time out, replacing the former Manchester United forward on the right flank inside 18 minutes.
Read More
What time is FA Cup draw? Semi-final ball numbers and TV today
Mikel Arteta reacts as Arsenal suffer shock FA Cup exit
Arsenal dealt Gabriel blow as Arteta delivers worrying injury update
Winter escapes and activities to end the year in style
He would repay his manager’s faith, getting on the scoresheet as he opened the scoring in a 2-1 win.
However, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to hold down a starting berth in the Marseille starting XI under Beye.
“He is a great talent who needs to adapt to Ligue 1 and its intensity,” the Marseille boss said.
“Against Lille, he scored, but there are still aspects of his game that need to be much stronger.
“He needs to understand that he is arriving at a really top-level club. What is good is that he scored with his national team.”
Next up, Marseille take on Monaco as they chase Champions League qualification.
They sit fourth in the Ligue 1 table, two points clear of fifth-placed Lyon.