Arsenal now faces an incredibly awkward Ethan Nwaneri conversation

Arsenal are fully aware that they have a supreme talent on their hands in Ethan Nwaneri. Back in September 2022, he was introduced as a late substitute during a 3-0 Premier League victory over Brentford. In doing so, at the age of only 15 years and 181 days, he. became the youngest man to feature in a top-flight English football match, surpassing Derek Forster's record set in 1964 by three days.

Mikel Arteta was widely criticised for this decision, particularly by Jason Cundy of Talk Sport, who called the manager "self-indulgent" and labelled the decision "ridiculous" and "irresponsible". Well, in the long run, Arteta has been vindicated, with Nwaneri's talent clear for all to see, believing there is a pathway for him into the Arsenal first team, so much so that he signed a new five-year contract last summer.

However, the first half of this campaign did not go to plan for the teenager. Nwaneri saw plenty of minutes on the right wing last season, deputising for the sidelined Bukayo Saka. Now, though, Arteta views him as a central option, but the arrival of Eberechi Eze demoted him to third choice, behind the new signing as well as club captain Martin Ødegaard.

Thus, Nwaneri saw just 515 minutes of action for the Gunners this season, his only starts coming in cup competitions against Port Vale, Brighton, Portsmouth and Slavia Prague.

By the time the January transfer window opened, it was decided that a loan move would be best for his development, but only the right loan move. Numerous clubs, including Bournemouth, made an enquiry, but these were rebuffed. After much consideration, Arsenal thought they had found the perfect loan for their star teenager, but this may not turn out to be the case.

Why Ethan Nwaneri's loan is going wrong already

On Wednesday morning, it was confirmed that Roberto De Zerbi has departed Olympique de Marseille by mutual consent. This comes after les Phocéens' emphatic defeat in Le Classique on Sunday night, smashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes.

Tensions between De Zerbi and the OM hierachy had been building for a little while before this though. Les Olympiens crashed out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion, smashed 3-0 by Club Brugge on the final matchday, denied a spot in the top 24 on goal difference, thanks to goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin's historic 98th minute header for Benfica.

Marseille are through to the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France and sit fourth in Ligue 1, so they have plenty to play for, but De Zerbi will not be at the helm when Strasbourg visit Stade Vélodrome on Saturday. This could be bad news for Nwaneri, who had made an eye-catching start to life in France.

Ethan Nwaneri's Marseille statistics

Nwaneri scored just 13 minutes into his Ligue 1 debut, cooly side-footing into the far corner as Marseille demolished second-place Lens 3-1 at home last month. The statistics support the zeitgeist that the Englishman has been thriving in the French Riviera, taking shots, creating chances and registering plenty of touches.

De Zerbi's high-intensity, ultra-attacking style was a key reason when Arsenal believed Marseille to be the best place for the teenager's development, so the Italian's departure is far from ideal. Nevertheless, based on what he has shown in an OM shirt to date, whoever replaces De Zerbi would be insane not to keep Nwaneri in the team, albeit this uncertainty is far from helpful.

Following Mikel Merino's injury, there has been some speculation that Arsenal should recall Nwaneri. However, it has been widely reported that there is no clause in the agreement that would allow them to do so, and the youngster should be left to develop in France regardless.