Ethan Nwaneri’s loan from Arsenal to Marseille is going from bad to worse.
The teenager is one of the best young players in the world, but lack of game time at the Emirates Stadium made a loan move the most sensible option.
Offers from Premier League clubs were turned down, and Mikel Arteta sent Nwaneri to Marseille to work with Roberto De Zerbi until the end of the season.
That plan failed as the Italian left the club, and now, Nwaneri is facing new problems.
Fill in the blank: In five years, Ethan Nwaneri will be _________
How do you see the Arsenal youngster's future panning out…
Ethan Nwaneri was benched as Marseille fans staged a protest against the board
Ethan Nwaneri started each of Marseille’s four games when De Zerbi was at the helm.
The Arsenal loanee had a dream debut, where he scored a brilliant goal after just 13 minutes. He wasn’t at his best in the next three games, but neither were many of his teammates.
In Marseille’s first game in the post-De Zerbi era, Jacques Abardonado dropped Nwaneri to the bench and left him there as an unused substitute.
During the first half of the game, angry home supporters walked out of the Stade Velodrome in protest against the club’s board.
They left banners behind that read: “Stands empty in protest for a club self-destructing. All your projects go up in flames during these wasted years.” [George Boxall]
Marseille went 2-0 up in the game, but they allowed Strasbourg to score twice in the second half and had to settle for a draw.
Unfortunately for Nwaneri, he couldn’t do anything to help his side.
Finish the sentence: Arsenal’s decision to send Ethan Nwaneri on loan to Marseille now looks __________ following Roberto De Zerbi’s sacking…
There’s still one positive for Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri at Marseille
Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta must be regretting their decision to send Nwaneri on loan to Marseille.
Their manager of choice is gone, the club is in turmoil, and the home fans are as angry as they have ever been in recent years.
This is not ideal at all for a teenager in his first-ever loan spell, especially if he is left on the bench as an unused substitute.
However, Nwaneri will now have to learn to handle the pressure at one of the most intimidating stadiums in France.
That will definitely benefit him in the long run.
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