Four months after signing a new contract at Arsenal, Ethan Nwaneri could leave the Gunners on loan.
Arsenal are open to loaning Nwaneri out in January as the 18-year-old’s minutes have reduced significantly since his breakthrough season.
Nwaneri’s attitude has been terrific in what is a tough situation for the midfielder, who isn’t playing enough football.
Very few would’ve predicted the situation that the Englishman is in so soon after he penned a new deal at Arsenal.
If you could pick one club in the entire world for Ethan Nwaneri to join on loan in January, which would it be and why?
Or should Arsenal just keep him until the summer?
Ethan Nwaneri was told he’d have chances in his preferred position
Already this season, Nwaneri has been an unused substitute 12 times, causing him to miss a lot of football.
A loan opportunity is needed, but is perhaps not something the 18-year-old might’ve expected.
Speaking live on YouTube with The Football Terrace, journalist Ben Jacobs spoke about Arsenal’s midfield heading into the January transfer window, which is when he revealed one element of Nwaneri’s contract talks.
“Ethan Nwaneri, when he signed his new deal, was told that he’ll get opportunities through the centre as well,” Jacobs said.
“So in the middle of the park, Arsenal seem fine,” he concluded.
Jacobs’ understanding of the situation is frustrating, as just months after putting pen to paper on the contract, Arsenal’s words to Nwaneri are flawed.
The Hale End product has played just 163 minutes of a possible 1440 in attacking midfield in the Premier League this season, and there’s a greater issue.
Due to Arsenal’s increased squad depth, there’s a possibility that Nwaneri could drop out of the matchday squad once his absent teammates return to the fold.
Nwaneri will be wary of past Arsenal loans
Nwaneri could thrive at the right club, which is why the decision over his future is crucial to get right.
The teenager has an incredibly high ceiling and is expected to excel with sufficient minutes; however, it’s impossible not to consider how past loans have gone for Arsenal academy products in the first team.
You’re Ethan Nwaneri, which league are you choosing to go on loan to in January and why?
Take Reiss Nelson, for example, who is now 26 years old on his fourth loan away from the first team but will almost certainly have no place in the squad when he returns to Arsenal.
Emile Smith Rowe is another player who had no luck with loans while at Arsenal, representing RB Leipzig and Huddersfield, scoring twice in a combined 22 appearances.
Nwaneri is simply too good to risk becoming the next academy product to depart on loan with no route of return, with all eyes on what the Gunners have in store for him in January.
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