Mikel Arteta makes Ethan Nwaneri feelings clear as Arsenal face transfer decision

Ethan Nwaneri has impressed in recent pre-season matches for Arsenal, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to convince Mikel Arteta to keep him at the club.

The Hale End graduate shone in the opening 45 minutes against Como on Wednesday, effectively leading the Gunners' press whilst also creating a chance for Piero Hincapie with a wonderful piece of skill. This came days after scoring against Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates.

Nwaneri has been linked with a move throughout this summer, with multiple clubs understood to be interested in prying the 19-year-old away from North London. RB Leipzig, Dortmund and other Bundesliga outfits have been mooted as potential suitors.

This speculation made pre-season extremely significant for the teenager, but unfortunately for him, his displays don't appear to have swayed the key decision-makers at Highbury House.

Mikel Arteta drops Ethan Nwaneri transfer hint

Arsenal are in a difficult position with Nwaneri. On the one hand, he's an extremely talented youngster with whom supporters have grown an emotional connection due to his roots, making a potential sale an unpopular decision. On the other hand, there isn't an obvious pathway to first-team minutes for him, but he is a valuable asset who could generate a substantial fee.

Arteta was quick to heap praise on the attacking midfielder when asked about his plans for the player in the upcoming season.

"I don't know the plans, but certainly he opens your eyes in terms of how much a young player can evolve in such a short period," the Spaniard said in his press conference on Friday, ahead of Sunday's Community Shield against Manchester City.

"How work and experience abroad with certain difficulties and challenges - what you can really get out of that and I think he's done it in a brilliant way.

"It's unquestionable the talent, the desire, the love and the passion he has for the game. It's something that I always loved about Ethan. I think he had some great games and he's shown everybody that he has the ability to be here."

Despite waxing lyrical about Nwaneri, the Gunners' boss did essentially go on to hint that the starlet needs to leave this summer in order to continue his development.

"I want him to be at the club, but in the middle, long term, what is best for the player? Ethan needs to play football, and if he stays here, it’s because we can guarantee that he can have those minutes. Otherwise, it's just something that is not good for anybody, I think."

Arsenal must sell Ethan Nwaneri

It's a tough decision which won't go down well amongst supporters, but Arsenal must sell Nwaneri this summer. An asset as valuable as he is cannot afford to spend a full season sat on the bench - this would only risk decreasing how much he is worth in 12 months time.

Many could argue that he won't spend the season on the bench, but Arteta evidently doesn't view this situation in that way. His aforementioned comments suggest he doesn't see how he's going to afford Nwaneri the minutes he needs to continue his development, and with Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino ahead of him, you can't really blame the manager.

This doesn't have to be the end for Nwaneri at Arsenal, though. Talk of a buy-back clause has circulated in the reporting around the player's future, and this could mean that the Gunners settle for a slightly lower fee than they might hope, so that they have the opportunity to resign him at a bargain price in a year or two, if he's at the level required to contribute for a side competing for four honours.

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