Arsenal youngster Ethan Nwaneri has been unable to make himself a regular this season, such is the squad’s depth, and Mikel Arteta has been urged to consider a loan exit
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been told that he should sanction the loan departure of Ethan Nwaneri, with the youngster’s development being halted by his lack of minutes.
The teenage star was the Premier League’s youngest ever player when he made his debut in 2022 and has continued to shine when given the opportunity. Nwaneri is an academy graduate but the mass investment made in the summer saw the likes of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze both arrive.
That has pushed Nwaneri further down the pecking order and he’s yet to start a Premier League game this term, even though there have been injuries to the frontline more recently.
It is understood that Arsenal would be open to letting the 18-year-old head out temporarily and ex-Gunner Lauren insists it will be good for Nwaneri – and potentially Max Dowman – to leave the Emirates to play regular minutes.
He told Metro: “First of all, youngsters have to play to able to develop and improve his qualities. We know about his qualities. A young player needs to play if he is to develop. At this moment of time, it’s very difficult for him to pop up into the team because there a top player now.
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“There are more good players in the last third so for him it’s more difficult, and it’s the same with Dowman. It’s not a bad idea to go on loan and then to play the games that you need to develop. Maybe he might come back. It’s not the end of the world. I believe it could be a good option for a youngster to move along and then come back later on.”
Last term he scored nine times across his 37 appearances and often when he played he produced moments of quality that made onlookers take note. Joe Cole was among those he left a mark on – leading to huge praise.
The ex-Chelsea star was present when Nwaneri as an injury-hit Arsenal side saw off Leicester at the King Power Stadium with the teenager the star of the show.
Cole said on TNT Sports: “He’s a strong little thing. You can’t mark him because he can go both ways. These touches he produces in and around the box, I don’t want to say it, but it’s like Messi. I don’t want to put any more pressure on the kid’s shoulders, I’m sure he’ll deal with it. He plays with such confidence and he’s a beautiful player.”
Martin Keown claimed: “It’s a huge leg-up for the club. You lose Saka and you’ve almost got his twin out there. This young man, I thought he was immense. He’s so confident and he steps into the ball and he’s aggressive when he travels with it.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
