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Ethan Nwaneri burst onto the scene at Arsenal when he became the youngest player ever to appear in the top flight of English soccer. However, since his Premier League debut against Brentford, Nwaneri has lacked game time with the Gunners.
He featured fairly regularly last season, making 26 Premier League appearances. This campaign, he has featured just six times in the league. This has led to him joining the Ligue 1 side Marseille on loan.
Marseille does not have the option to buy Nwaneri permanently. He is still seen as a key part of Arsenal's future. The Gunners have been clever in the deal with the French side. According to The Athletic, the more Nwaneri plays, the less Marseille will have to pay for his services.
Is Marseille a good fit for Ethan Nwaneri?
Nwaneri is only 18, so it is a crucial time in his development. He is joining a team coached by Roberto De Zerbi, who was known for developing young players during his tenure at Brighton.
Ligue 1 soccer is not up to scratch with the Premier League. Therefore, it could be the perfect stepping stone for Nwaneri to develop his talents before testing himself in English soccer again. Marseille are currently third in Ligue 1, behind Paris Saint-Germain and, surprisingly, Lens. This is good, as Nwaneri will be joining a side that will be expected to win most of their remaining league fixtures.
De Zerbi's side is also in the Champions League, but they are 16th. This means that they will likely have to face a playoff match to continue in the knockout stages.
One concern for Nwaneri at Marseille is that he may not be around the best characters. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy and forced out of the club by Arteta, is there. The controversial Mason Greenwood is also in their ranks. Angel Gomes and CJ Egan-Riley are two other English players who should be able to help Nwaneri settle at the club.
All in all, Marseille should be a good place for Nwaneri to develop his talents, despite the potential bad eggs at the club. It was always going to be difficult for Nwaneri to get regular game time at Arsenal this season, as he is competing directly with Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze. Playing time should be in abundance at Marseille, and this is what the young player needs most of all.