Mikel Arteta has insisted that Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri must 'respond in the right way' after having his commitment questioned during his stint at Marseille. The 19-year-old academy graduate joined the Ligue 1 side on loan in January seeking more playing time, but his opportunities have dwindled since the arrival of new coach Habib Beye.
Nwaneri's Struggles at Marseille
Nwaneri scored on his debut for Marseille but has not started a match under Beye, who replaced Roberto De Zerbi. In recent games, he has been an unused substitute twice. Beye publicly stated that Nwaneri needs to 'show us a lot more in his everyday commitment' to earn a starting spot.
Arteta's Response
When asked about Beye's comments, Arteta said: 'I think that's the coach's opinion. He's with him every single day and that's it. He's the one making the decision.' The Arsenal boss urged Nwaneri to use the criticism as motivation, drawing a parallel with William Saliba's successful loan at the same club. 'Ethan has to respond to that in the right way. It's the same place that William Saliba was there, same club. The outcome – let's see. Maybe it's the best thing that can happen for Ethan, for his career,' Arteta added.
Uncertain Future for Academy Stars
Nwaneri and fellow Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly face uncertain futures at Arsenal due to limited playing time. Both signed long-term contracts recently, but reports suggest the club may consider selling them this summer. Arteta previously emphasized that academy players must earn their place consistently. 'At the end what has to define this football club is to seek for excellence and seek for the best, regardless if you're coming from the academy or abroad. If we can have players from Hale End, much better because the identity is there. But at the end they have to earn it. Not for a week, not for a month, for years. Like anybody else,' he said.
