Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri being 'thrown to the sharks' at Marseille will make him 'so good' as Arsenal hope for William Saliba repeat

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Mikel Arteta said the last thing Arsenal want to do is "cut" Ethan Nwaneri's development after the young forward was loaned to Ligue 1 club Marseille. The 18-year-old joins Roberto De Zerbi's side until the end of the season after struggling for minutes with the Premier League leaders in recent months following the summer arrivals of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke at the Emirates Stadium.

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Mikel Arteta said the experience of being "thrown to the sharks" at Marseille is going to make Ethan Nwaneri "so good."

The 18-year-old has joined the Ligue 1 club on loan for the rest of the season after struggling for minutes this season at Arsenal.

Nwaneri played in 37 matches during a breakthrough campaign in 2024/25, scoring nine goals, but he managed just 12 matches with a solitary goal this term before being loaned out.

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Arsenal's summer signing of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke has limited opportunities, while the signing of Martin Zubimendi has seen Martin Odegaard play in an advanced role more often.

That has left Arteta and Nwaneri both believing it would be beneficial for the teenager to go and play under Roberto De Zerbi.

He joins fellow Englishmen Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes and CJ Egan-Riley in Marseille.

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Speaking on his teenage starlet leaving the Emirates until the summer, Arteta said: "The talented young players that we have need minutes and Ethan wasn't getting enough minutes.

"The last thing we want to do is cut his development because he's such a talent. He lives and breathes football - that's his life.

"The first thing is excitement because you speak to the manager, he's very keen on you, and you're going to start a lot of games, and that's all very good. But then you have to go: 'Okay, pack your bags, here are the flight tickets to Marseille.'

"And then there is the fear and the insecurity of getting out of a place that has been really comfortable for him [Nwaneri].

"At the end you have to be thrown to the sharks in an incredible football atmosphere, and it's going to make him so good."

Nwaneri can take inspiration from Arsenal centre back William Saliba, after he spent three seasons on loan in France, at Saint Etienne, Nice and Marseille.

William Saliba spent a season at Marseille.

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Saliba’s experience at Marseille is something that Arteta is particularly keen on Nwaneri emulating, with the French star now a key cog in the Arsenal side that are fighting on all four fronts.

He played 36 times for Marseille in the 2021/2022 season before returning to north London, where he has been a starting centre back ever since.

Arteta added: "Having all the options and understanding the experience that we had in Marseille with William [Saliba], and the fact that Roberto [De Zerbi] is there, who is an incredible developer of young talent and the courageous way he plays, means it is going to be a great experience for Ethan."

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