Morning all.
When it became clear that Ethan Nwaneri was heading out on loan for the rest of the season, my heart sank. Why was Nuno Madueke playing ahead of him when he’s not exactly setting the Arsenal world alight ran through my mind. But then I’m a fan, not a coach or manager.
I suppose the simple answer to why he’s going on loan could be that he needs to gain experience, not just in football, but in life. A new country, a new language, assuming Ethan didn’t learn French at school, new teammates and perhaps the most important, a new coach in Roberto De Zerbi.
De Zerbi is no stranger to the Premier League having spent a while at Brighton but he’s experienced in other countries too. His spell at Shakhtar was cut short because of the war between Ukraine and Russia but he left them in a very good position and now of course, he’s in France with Marseille.
Nwaneri will be joined by Quinten Timber, Jurrien’s brother and De Zerbi had this to say:
As far as Timber and Nwaneri, they are two strong players and I’m really happy to have them in the squad. These are two quality players, for sure. Timber also has experience and Nwaneri has talent, he is a very high potential player.” the Marseille boss reportedly told reporters.
As for Ethan Nwaneri, well he’s obviously spoken to our centre-back as according to reports, he said:
William Saliba told me that Marseille is one of the best clubs in the world. Roberto De Zerbi is one of the best coaches in the world, he’s demanding. I’m ready to play under him and listen to what he wants for the team.
Marseille and Arsenal have history. William Saliba spent the season there before slotting in beside Gabriel to form one of the best central defensive pairings in the game and both Matteo Guendouzi and Nuno Tavares went on loan to Marseille but the less said about them the better. Sead Kolasinac also joined the French club in January 2022 after leaving Arsenal.
The key to any successful loan though is the amount of playing time afforded to the player. Too many times clubs have come calling for our players only to banish them to the sidelines which does no one any good whatsoever. The worst loan Arsenal made in my opinion was sending Serge Gnabry to play under Pulis. I use the word play loosely of course. Gnabry had the last laugh though.
De Zerbi has a squad full of midfielders. 9 at the moment, 11 once both Timber and Nwaneri join them which kind of suggests Ethan will continue on the wing unless De Zerbi thinks he’s better than who he already has which isn’t as unlikely as it might sound. Just because Mikel Arteta can’t see a way for him into the first team right now, it doesn’t mean another won’t. I don’t think the French League is quite as brutal as the Premier League, so perhaps that too has come in the equation when deciding which club Nwaneri went to. He’s still growing after all.
Marseille are still in with a chance of progressing in the Champions League but will need a win from their last game as well as victory in the playoffs. Domestically, they sit eight points behind league leaders Lens. They are still in the French equivalent of our FA Cup too so hopefully there will be plenty of opportunities for our midfielder/winger.
The future for any player holds an amount of uncertainty but for Ethan, I’m pretty sure he’ll be Arsenal’s for a long time yet.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico,
My heart also sank when I heard that Ethan was going to Marseille. To me he seems the natural replacement when Ødegaard is out for whatever reason. Eze’s been underwhelming in this role so far. And with us being in four competitions it’s going to be all hands to the pump over the next few months. I guess with Havertz now fit and ready to go and Jesus playing well, Arteta feels he has enough attacking options to let Nwaneri go and continue his development. Let’s hope he’s right.
Morning Anthony.
Next season I guess for Ethan. If Hincapie and Calafiori were fit and the latter more robust, MLS would benefit from a loan imo.
The Mail have a story about Havertz suffering a setback which seems odd as he was in the squad Tuesday.
Good morning Rico and all.
Could it be that Nwaneri has been pushing for a loan move in order to get more playing time rather than stagnating on the Arsenal bench?
At least he is not trying to get away from The Emirates on a permanent basis.
Morning Cicero, could be but reports don’t suggest such. Not that they are gospel of course.
Morning. I am all for Nwaneri going to Marseille. It will get him the much needed play time he needs to gain more experience, which hopefully will help him to mature and become permanently selected for the 1st team when he returns to Arsenal.
Good luck Nwaneri and show everyone what you are really made of.
Just one thing, don’t pop in too many goals for Marseille if they make it to the next round of the Champs League and get drawn against Arsenal!
Not sure he’d be legible to play if we draw them.
Morning Rico and all, a little bit surprised about Nwaneri, but can only guess that Arteta agreed to loan him out to give him a chance to prove himself, hopefully he can get a chance and come back a better player,
Morning Geoff, I was too at first, especially as we’re still in all four competitions.
I really hope the Nwaneri loan works out,when you think about it,very few return to be successful at Arsenal. It takes a special player – Saliba is one.
To be realistic it’s about raising his transfer value too,Marseille are near the top of the French league and hopefully stay in the Champions league,but more than anything I’d love to see him back at Arsenal.
Hope there’s no thought towards selling him. We’ve paid millions for players who aren’t as good as him. imo.
My cousin used to work nights on the maintenance side on the London Underground and that place is full of ghosts.
I think that Nwaneri will do just fine in France, I did hear that Marseilles only paid €4m for Quinton Timber but that there’s a lot of add-ons built into the deal.
Surprised that we never had a look at him for that price?
Anyone noticed how all the media Arsenal haters are yearning for a Man Utd win this weekend…
I think I read that and it might have been Kev that we set a loan fee that gets discounted every time he plays . Shrewd idea.
He is still a kid and sometimes kids have to be told what is good for them , he needs to play and if the deal with Di Zerbi is honoured and he gets that time , it is both good for the club and good for him too.
No surprise really Kev, they want us to lose every game I’m sure..
Mikel Arteta has issued an update on the latest team news ahead of our Premier League clash with Manchester United at Emirates Stadium.
The boss was first asked about defensive duo Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie, who have both been out since the start of 2026, and their chances of making the matchday squad for Sunday’s game.
“We still have another training session,” Mikel said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, “so we’ll see tomorrow, after that, to assess everybody and make a decision, first of all in the squad.”
There was more positive news on the fitness front, with our squad emerging from a midweek win over Inter Milan with “no issues reported.”
That’s almost word for word what he said prior to the Inter match. I don’t know why the journos bother to attend.
Well, it was Mosquera last time who returned, maybe this time it’ll be one of the two as well.
Good evening Rico and all
Another fine post. and it touched a topic which stings a bit. For me at least. No. A flat no. I don’t like the fact that Nwaneri has gone on loan. Imo he is ready for first team regular. Saka needs to rest?? Play Nwaneri. Odegaard needs to rest?? Play Nwaneri. He should have played more imo. I have grown to like Noni yes. I like Eze a lot. But if I were given a choice it would be Ethan all day. 10 to 20 mins each game and begin game instead of the above mentioned. Yes Marseille is a good team for him but I preferred he stayed and subbed or rotated the above players.
At least I am glad that he went to De Zerbi. A manager I really like very much. He plays with his brains not with his heart. And left good vibes everywhere he went. hopefully he gets to play regularly.
Still, it left me with a bit of heaviness. As much as when ESR went.
Gyokeres or Jesus for United game?? For me I think we should begin with Jesus for this game. This would encourage them to come out and play. Plus Jesus would move around and float. Then in the 2nd half I would introduce Gyokeres for Odegaard, put Trossard in the middle, Saka goes to the left and Jesus on the right. Or Jesus on the left. And united would have open spaces in their team. Plus Viktor would be fresh to bulldoze his way through.
So yes I would begin with Martinelli, Jesus and Saka in attack. Odegaard, Rice and Zubimendi in midfield. But introduce Trossard for Martinelli and Gyokeres for Odegaard around the 60th minute. Unless Odegaard is playing a blinder.
If we take our chances we should be out of sight by half time.
that 2-8 still stings. even after so many years.
Rumours of Cole Palmer being homesick at Chelsea and Man Utd being interested. Apparently he’s a red –
and I don’t mean that he’s a Bolshevik…
Jesus has got a new agent, an Italian?
Funny how he was waxing lyrical after his two goals in the San Siro last Wednesday and about how he used to love watching Serie A when he was a kid back home in Brazil and that it was a dream come true to play in the San Siro… 🤔
Evening Devil, I’m pretty sure most of us would rather Ethan stayed and played but it’s better for him that he plays elsewhere than not even make our squad.
I think Jesus will move on in the summer…
me too.
How many minutes has Nwanery played so far this season?
Not enough, the problem is that he was unlikely to get more
.If Odegaard gets injured we have Eze and should it be Saka we have Madueke, so letting him go is not a disaster. As much as I think Eze was a waste of money because Nwanery is as good if not better , it is what is it is and the pecking order is set and Nwaneri needs the games.
Looking forward I have seen rumours of Martinelli being sold to finance further purchases but I reckon Jesus and possibly Odegaard are more likely to go. We shall see.
I too think Odegaard could be on the move in the summer, we’ve seen the best of him imo. I don’t think he’ll be the only one either.
Good morning all.
Today’s gossip is that Arsenal are considering a summer move for Athletic Madrid’s twenty-five year old Argentina forward Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez would be a direct replacement for Jesus, he is a centre forward who previously played for City, Only five foot seven tall. Current value €100 million.
Morning Cicero, not another City cast off. Lol
Much rather Brentford’s Thiago.
I’ll give Berta a call Rico, to suggest he gets in touch with Brentford. 😉
WSL Chelsea vs Arsenal live on BBC1 12 noon.
Maybe a chance for Kev to get another look at our new right back. 😉
I’ll put it on now Cicero… 😁
Don’t bother Kev, she’s on the bench. 😕
I see that the political class have cancelled local elections for the second year running in about 30 councils, whatever happened to our democracy?
Ok Cicero, I’ll watch YouTube instead, thanks. 👍
Please do Cicero. 😂
Good question about democracy ? You can’t help wondering if the plan is to create such a crisis that they can cancel the next general election
Should be one up.
Isn’t Farage challenging the council vote cancellation in court next month? I hope he wins that.
He has a problem though , the judge that will decide will be appointed by the department run by David Lammy .
Two goals, clean sheet, three points. Beth Mead with a goal and an assist player of the match. 🔔🔔
The people vs the blob
That’s put a dampener on my optimism Potter.
Starmer is running scared, he knows that if he allows council elections now Labour would be wiped out. If that happened the opposition parties in Parliament would demand a vote of confidence, lose that and Labour would have to hold a general election which they would more than likely lose.
Bring it on!
Re Starmer, totally agree. What a coward.
Well done Bournemouth…
Bournemouth 2 – 1 Liverpool. Half-time. Nip down to the ground Rico get over the fence and cheer them on.
Ha ha Cicero, just a little bit far to get there on time.
2-2 now.
3 – 2 to Bournemouth. Brilliant!
Ethan scored for Marseille
Morning.
New post up.