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Marseille head coach Habib Beye has raised concerns about Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri’s application away from matchdays, questioning the 19-year-old’s commitment levels compared to other squad members.
The criticism comes after Nwaneri was once again an unused substitute during Marseille’s draw with Nice, marking the fourth time this season the Hale End graduate has failed to come off the bench during a Ligue 1 match.
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According to [Football London](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/ethan-nwaneri-day-day-commitment-33845281), Beye delivered a damning assessment of the teenager’s efforts outside of matchdays when speaking to French outlet L1+.
“He’s a quality player,” Beye said. “But he has to give us way more in his day-to-day commitment. Other players gave way more.”
The situation becomes more complex when considering Marseille’s financial arrangement with Arsenal. The loan fee structure means the French club pays less the more Nwaneri plays, making Beye’s decision not to utilize the youngster even more significant from a monetary standpoint.
Limited minutes raise questions
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Since joining Marseille in January, Nwaneri has managed just over 300 minutes across nine Ligue 1 appearances, starting only five matches. The attacking midfielder has contributed two goals and one assist during his time in France.
The lack of game time has not gone unnoticed by Arsenal supporters, many of whom questioned the loan decision given the club’s injury issues in midfield. Both Eberechi Eze and Martin Odegaard have dealt with fitness problems, while Mikel Merino missed the entire second half of the season following foot surgery.
Mikel Arteta had previously defended the loan move when asked about potential regrets in February, particularly after Roberto De Zerbi’s departure from Marseille – initially cited as a key factor in sending Nwaneri there.
“The best decision for the club, for Ethan, was for him to go and experience a different environment,” Arteta explained. “Have minutes played, and get ready to come back to us.”
Future implications
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With minutes proving harder to come by than anticipated, questions are mounting over whether the loan is achieving its intended purpose of providing valuable first-team experience for the promising youngster.
The additional concerns raised about Nwaneri’s commitment levels away from matchdays add another dimension to what was supposed to be a straightforward development opportunity. These comments will likely prompt discussions at Arsenal about the player’s progress and future planning as they monitor the situation closely from north London.