Selling Ethan Nwaneri makes Arsenal buying Noni Madueke their biggest mistake

Ethan Nwaneri's future as an Arsenal player is currently very uncertain as the transfer window heads into its final weeks.

The Hale End graduate's situation is delicate according to James McNicholas of The Athletic with the Gunners recognising and valuing his talent, but also accepting that his pathway to the first team is congested.

If Nwaneri were to leave the North Londoners, it would be a huge loss to let a player of such potential depart and his possible exit makes the club's decision to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea their biggest mistake.

Selling Ethan Nwaneri makes Arsenal buying Noni Madueke their biggest mistake

When Nwaneri was excluded from Arsenal's squad to face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, Fabrizio Romano was quick to take to X and report that he will leave the club before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday 1 September.

When Romano reveals transfer news, there is usually a huge element of truth to it so it is looking likely that the Premier League's youngest ever player will indeed bid farwell to his boyhood club this summer.

The Hale End graduate's departure would bring pure profit given his rise from the academy, but fans won't be able to help but feel his exit could have been prevented if the Gunners didn't sign Madueke last summer.

Having made two appearances for the club as a young prospect, Nwaneri made his first team breakthrough in the 2024/25 season, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in 37 games. He filled in for Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard well when the pair were absent through injury.

The youngster had proven that he could offer plenty to the first team and many felt that he would improve even more in the 2025/26 campaign. What was Arsenal's response to Nwaneri's breakthrough term? Give him a new number, a long-term contract and sign Madueke to act as Saka's deputy on the right wing.

His £52million move from Chelsea saw him become the second-choice option on the flank, preventing Nwaneri from being given the chances he needed to further his development. The Hale End star played just 12 times before being loaned out to Marseille while Madueke made 43 appearances on his way to becoming a Premier League champion.

Nwaneri's temporary move to France didn't exactly go to plan as he played only 11 matches, scoring twice, but seeing just 412 minutes of action. His return to Arsenal saw him made aware he'd have to fight for his place in the first team and that was made even more difficult by the emergence of fellow academy prospect Max Dowman.

He was given chances to impress Mikel Arteta in pre-season, but failed to take them for the most part and that has left his Gunners future hanging in the balance with just under two weeks to go until the transfer window closes.

Critics will say that Nwaneri should have done better to fight for his place and that is completely correct, but there is no denying that the signing of Madueke would have been a huge knock to his confidence.

Imagine having a brilliant breakthrough season just for your team to go and sign another player in your position, subsequently stopping you from building on your previous impressive performances. That wouldn't be great for a player at any level.

Madueke is a talented player and had some good moments for Arsenal in his debut campaign, but Nwaneri's potential is a lot higher and if the former's signing is one of the key factors in the latter's departure, then it will end up being one of Arsenal's biggest transfer mistakes.

The Gunners have a big decision to make in the next 10 days or so over whether Nwaneri stays or goes. Keeping hold of him or loaning him out would be the sensible option, but if Arsenal receive a good offer, they must take it, but should also consider working in a buy-back clause to guarantee that he could offer something to his boyhood club once again.

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