Arsenal have been told that they face a 'big problem' with Ethan Nwaneri after Roberto De Zerbi was sacked by Marseille.
The 18-year-old has endured a rollercoaster loan in France, having hoped to continue his development under the ex-Brighton boss.
Ethan Nwaneri in action for Marseille on loan from Arsenal
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Nwaneri will spend the rest of his Marseille loan under a new managerCredit: Getty
Just 19 days ago, Nwaneri agreed to spend the remainder of the season at Marseille after failing to start a Premier League match this campaign.
The England U21 international made only four starts across 12 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions this season.
Arteta said a key reason Arsenal felt Marseille was the 'right place' was that De Zerbi is a 'really courageous manager' who plays young talent.
That decision looked an inspired one, with Nwaneri scoring just 13 minutes into his debut in a 3-1 win over Lens last month.
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However, he was ineligible when Marseille crashed out of the Champions League following a shock 3-0 loss to Club Brugge.
Nwaneri has since struggled in each of his next three games, being subbed off by De Zerbi at half-time in both of his last two outings.
The most recent of which came in a 5-0 thrashing to rivals Paris Saint-Germain, which has now seen his manager leave the club.
Arsenal face 'big problem' with Nwaneri
Discussing what De Zerbi's exit means for Nwaneri, European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT: "That is a big problem.
"There's no doubt about it.
Ethan Nwaneri in action for Marseille on loan from Arsenal
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Nwaneri made just four appearances under De ZerbiCredit: Getty
Ethan Nwaneri celebrates scoring for Marseille
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The ex-Brighton boss was earmarked as a key factor behind the teen's developmentCredit: AFP
"It felt like Nwaneri was De Zerbi signing, with Arsenal being reluctant to let him go in the first instance and then really Arteta deciding this is a place and this is a guy under which he can develop.
"If we go back and all this season Roberto De Zerbi has been talking about, 'I need my number 10, I need my number 10 to finish my team off.' And that's why we know where Nwaneri is going in the team.
"That vision for him is absolutely what made the transfer happen.
"So [now that it has fallen] apart with De Zerbi, you'd be a little bit concerned from a distance because you believe so much in him as the right coach, even more so than you believe in Marseille as a team.
"You believe Marseille is the right club to take Nwaneri to the next level to help him develop and then if De Zerbi leaves all of a sudden you're not in control of that."
Ironically, De Zerbi could find himself landing at Arsenal's north London rivals, Tottenham, after Thomas Frank was sacked.
Former Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi
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De Zerbi could replace Frank after his Marseille exitCredit: AFP
talkSPORT understands that De Zerbi, who will look to his next step in the summer, was on Spurs' list before Ange Postecoglou was hired.
"If I'm the Spurs board right now, I am phoning him up and getting him in at Tottenham tomorrow," Jamie O'Hara said on Drive.
Arsenal's next game
The Gunners have three games to play before facing Spurs in that north London derby on February 22.
They face Brentford on Thursday, which is live on talkSPORT, before Wigan in the FA Cup on Sunday, and then Wolves in the Premier League on Wednesday, February 18.
The Inside Gooners YouTube show gave a warning over the test that awaits them against Brentford.
Broadcaster and Arsenal fan Deluded Gooner said: “It's a massive game. Brentford are a very well-run club. They're one of the most forward-thinking clubs in the league.
“A lot of the traditional top six couldn't lose their manager in Thomas Frank at the time.
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Their captain in Christian Noorgaard, star men in Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo and actually do better with their recruitment and everything they're doing. So shout out to Keith Andrews.
“They're actually in with a chance of qualifying for Europe. So this isn't going to be a given.
"It is a potential banana skin.
“It's not going to be easy, but if we really want this and we show our true quality, we've got nothing to fear.
“I do think it's going to be end-to-end. It's going to be a bit nervy. We might have to see Kai Havertz or Viktor Gyokeres kind of late on.
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“We have to be braced for long throws and things from them.
“I won't go as far as to say we're going to win the league, but it's a massive hurdle to climb. So Thursday we know what we need to do.