Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has publicly urged Ethan Nwaneri to improve his professional application after the 19-year-old midfielder fell out of favour during his loan spell at Marseille. The England youth international, who joined the Ligue 1 side in January 2026 for the remainder of the season, has faced recent criticism from Marseille head coach Habib Beye regarding his training standards and day-to-day commitment. Despite a goal-scoring debut against Lens in January, Nwaneri has seen his minutes restricted following the mid-season departure of Roberto De Zerbi, the manager who originally sanctioned the move.
Habib Beye questions Nwaneri’s training standards
The loan, intended to replicate the successful development path William Saliba took at the Stade Vélodrome, has stalled since Habib Beye replaced Roberto De Zerbi in February. Speaking to the media in April, Beye was blunt about why the Arsenal loanee had been relegated to the bench, stating that Nwaneri "has to give way more in his day-to-day commitment" and that other members of the squad had shown greater consistency in their preparation. While the loan agreement reportedly includes financial penalties for Marseille if Nwaneri fails to meet a minimum minutes threshold, Beye has prioritised tactical discipline over the teenager’s individual development. Nwaneri’s game time has dwindled since a half-time withdrawal against Paris Saint-Germain in February, despite a match-winning assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in March.
Arteta demands response amid Arsenal squad competition
Addressing the situation on 2 May, Mikel Arteta framed the friction in France as a necessary hurdle for the player’s career arc. Speaking in a press conference, Arteta insisted that Nwaneri "has to respond to that in the right way," noting that a challenging environment at a club of Marseille’s stature could be the most beneficial experience for his long-term growth. The stakes for Nwaneri are high; after making 37 senior appearances during a breakout 2024/25 campaign, he found himself surplus to requirements this term following Arsenal’s significant investment in Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke. With Arsenal under pressure to manage Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) constraints, Nwaneri must prove he can provide immediate value to avoid being viewed as a sellable asset in the upcoming summer window.