Ethan Nwaneri was an unused substitute for Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League group-stage victory over Inter on Tuesday.
He is set to join Marseille on loan, and could be on course to be a starter by the knockouts.
After returning to London, the 18-year-old flew to Marseille to complete the formalities of his loan deal until the end of the season.
There is no option to buy included in the deal, but Arsenal will receive a loan fee, determined by how much Nwaneri plays at Marseille. There is also a development fee, which could come into play if the midfielder does not get sufficient minutes in France. There were several clubs interested in taking Nwaneri on loan, but Arsenal were attracted by the possibility of placing the midfielder under the tutelage of Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
At the outset of January, Arsenal were not actively pursuing a loan deal for Nwaneri. He added depth to the group, and helped ensure the level in training remained high.
As the month has gone on, however — and players have returned from injury — it has become clear Nwaneri’s first-team opportunities at Arsenal are likely to be limited.
Arteta is at the stage where he must consider leaving seasoned internationals out of his matchday squad — let alone youngsters such as Nwaneri.
While Arsenal softened on the possibility of a loan, they were unwilling to accept an option for a permanent transfer in any deal.
That suggests they envisage Nwaneri returning to north London. The England Under-21 international signed a five-year contract last summer, putting an end to speculation over his future.
Nwaneri had been the subject of interest from the likes of Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea, and with just 12 months remaining on his prior contract, Arsenal feared they might be forced into a painful sale.
The player’s priority was to stay, however — and ultimately Arsenal and Nwaneri came to an agreement. At the time, the indications were that Nwaneri would serve as the primary back-up to club captain Martin Odegaard.
The injury to Kai Havertz, however, forced them back into the market. Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, increasing the competition for the creative midfield positions. At times, Eze has found it difficult to hold down a first-team place, so there has been a natural knock-on effect for Nwaneri. He has not started a Premier League game this season.
Marseille has been a fruitful destination for Arsenal loanees. William Saliba is the standout example. He spent 2021-22 with Marseille, and was named as Ligue 1’s Young Player of the Year and in the French team of the season. The time with Marseille saw him mature as a player and a person, and it was the following summer that he was fully integrated into the Arsenal first team.
Saliba on loan at Marseille in 2021 (Christophe Simon/AFP via Getty Images)
Matteo Guendouzi and Nuno Tavares also had relatively successful spells at the Stade Velodrome, albeit they did return to Arsenal as part of Arteta’s plans.
Looking beyond this loan, Nwaneri still faces a significant task to leapfrog the likes of Odegaard, Eze and Merino. That is the challenge for Nwaneri to overcome: can he follow Saliba, and become undeniable?
For now, the focus is on Nwaneri’s development. He and Arteta are both enthused about the prospect of the youngster learning under De Zerbi.
Arteta has been a long-term admirer of the Italian’s coaching. “I know Roberto well, I’ve followed him,” Arteta said ahead of their first meeting in 2022. “I think he’s an extraordinary coach with very clear ideas that I enjoy watching.”
“They are a really complicated side,” he said of De Zerbi’s Brighton a few months later. “The way they are playing and what Roberto and the coaching staff has done is remarkable.”
That level of complexity is what makes De Zerbi an ideal foster coach for Nwaneri. De Zerbi’s game model is distinct from Arteta’s, but they share certain key principles.
Arteta has a lot of respect for De Zerbi (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
When Arsenal decided to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton in 2023, the fact the Belgian had flourished under De Zerbi counted in his favour. It demonstrated an ability to interpret and execute complex tactical ideas. It was felt that would speed his adaptation at Arsenal — and so it proved.
Now Arsenal hope De Zerbi can help take Nwaneri into the next phase of his development. The teenager joins a team with a flourishing attack — with 41 goals in 18 matches this season, they are the highest-scoring team in Ligue 1.
Marseille are not short of midfield depth: they have nine midfielders in their first-team squad and are also pursuing a deal for Feyenoord’s Quinten Timber, twin brother of Arsenal’s Jurrien, this month.
Nevertheless, they have persuaded Arsenal and Nwaneri that he will have a significant role to play between now and the summer.
If Arsenal ultimately win the Premier League, Nwaneri will still be eligible for a medal. Premier League rules stipulate that a medal is allocated to every player who has made at least five appearances. Thus far in 2025-26, Nwaneri has made six. The champions receive an allocation of 40 medals, which can be distributed among coaching staff, players and officials as the club see fit.
Nwaneri has made his contribution to Arsenal’s campaign. For the next few months, his immediate focus will be on delivering success to Marseille.