Arsenal: Is Ethan Nwaneri leaving?

Ethan Nwaneri is considering leaving Arsenal before the summer transfer window closes. According to Metro, the young attacking midfielder was particularly disappointed not to be part of the squad selected by Mikel Arteta for the Community Shield against Manchester City on Sunday. At 19, Nwaneri is still regarded as one of the great hopes of European football, despite a challenging 2025-2026 season. His future at Arsenal was already uncertain after a loan to Olympique de Marseille in the latter part of the previous season.

Nwaneri made a name for himself at a very young age by becoming, in 2022, the youngest player in history to play a Premier League match. He then took another step forward in 2024-2025, regularly featuring in Arteta’s squad. That season, he participated in 37 matches with Arsenal and was among the nominees for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Subsequently, he also extended his contract with the Gunners.

However, the following season proved to be much more challenging. Nwaneri only played six league matches before being loaned to Marseille in January. His time on the Canebière did not meet expectations either, with only nine appearances. Despite this mixed experience, Mikel Arteta believes that the young Englishman has learned important lessons from his time in France. “On the pitch, he didn’t [perform] because a lot of things happened in Marseille. However, when you are face to face with him, you perceive his maturity, and he seems to be a different person,” the Spanish coach explained.

Arteta also believed that this experience could be beneficial for the rest of his career, despite disappointing results on the field. Before the Community Shield, the coach did not rule out the possibility of his young player’s departure: “I wish for him to stay at the club. However, we must consider the medium and long-term implications.” Therefore, Nwaneri’s future will likely be one of the matters to watch until the closing of the transfer window.