20-year-old Edu favourite with ‘huge future’ now set for last-minute Arsenal exit

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Arsenal gem Marquinhos now looks set to return to Brazil on loan.

Marquinhos spent the first half of the current campaign away from Arsenal, on loan at Nice.

However, things did not go entirely to plan for the 20-year-old in France. Having made just seven appearances in Ligue 1, six of which came off the bench, the winger was recalled by the north London club shortly after the New Year.

Sporting director Edu played a big role in bringing Marquinhos to Arsenal, as he signed from Brazilian club Sao Paulo in the summer of 2022.

However, the young winger has had very few opportunities to impress for Mikel Arteta’s side since his arrival in England. Whilst Arsenal icon Martin Keown believes that the player could have a “huge future”, he has only made six first team appearances for the Gunners, and has failed to impress during loan stints with Norwich City and Nice.

A return to his homeland could help Marquinhos get his career back on track. According to journalist Felipe Cardoso, reporting on X, Fluminense are now on the verge of signing Marquinhos on loan for the rest of the season.

Can Marquinhos make the grade at Arsenal?

At this stage, it is hard to imagine Marquinhos ever truly making the grade at the Emirates Stadium. However, he is clearly talented, and Arteta will not have ruled him out of having a future at the club entirely at this point. If he can hit form in Brazil and develop quickly, then he could return to Arsenal in the summer ready to compete for a place in the first team squad. 

Alternatively, if he does well enough in this loan spell to raise his value then Arsenal may well seek to cash in on the Brazil under-23 international.

Certainly a return to Brazil ought to provide Marquinhos with the optimum environment to find some confidence and form.

Even if he does well, though, as a left-footed right-winger he faces an extremely tough task in ever usurping Bukayo Saka in the pecking order at Arsenal. That being said, Arteta’s squad currently lacks a natural back-up option for the 22-year-old Hale End academy graduate. Marquinhos could yet be the man to take up that vital role in the group.

For now, though, the youngster just needs to focus on making the most of this next loan move, as it may prove to be his last chance to show that he can still make an impact at Arsenal.