Arsenal transfer news: Ethan Nwaneri’s future decision revealed ahead of pre-season (exclusive)

Ethan Nwaneri could still have a future at Arsenal, but the youngster is under huge pressure to impress in pre-season, the Gunners midfielder has exclusively revealed. Sports mole.

The 19-year-old will soon return to London Colney following his loan spell with Marseille, who he joined in January under Roberto De Zerbi.

Nwaneri scored in his first game for Marseille in a 3-1 win over Lens on 24 January, but De Zerbi left his role with Les Olympiens a few weeks later, and the Arsenal loanee rarely impressed for the rest of the season.

Nwaneri finished his spell at Marseille with just two goals and an assist in 11 games, and his Arsenal future is now clouded in uncertainty, but his contract does not expire for another four seasons.

As a result, former Arsenal player Stefan Schwarz believes Nwaneri still has a role to play, but the 19-year-old’s chances will depend on how he performs in the summer.

Ethan Nwaneri has sent a stark warning to Arsenal ahead of the season

Asked if Nwaneri could start his career at Arsenal, Schwarz replied: “Yes, but this pre-season is very important for him to show Mikel Arteta that he has a future and can be part of the first team.

“I like him a lot, he is young, he has great technical skills and great ability and when he played he looked comfortable in the team.

“But with Saka, Madueke and Max Dowman getting minutes now, it is difficult for Nwaneri to perform well, so he will have to perform really well to have a place in the team. Even if not, he may want to move to get first team football.”

Arsenal’s pre-season games they start with a trip to Girona on August 1, before the next meetings with Real Betis (August 5), Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup (August 8) and Como (August 12).

Mikel Arteta’s side then face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16, five days before starting their Premier League title defense at home to newly promoted Coventry City.

Does Ethan Nwaneri have a future at Arsenal?

© Imago / SPORTS PRESS

While Schwarz name-checked Arteta’s three right-back options when discussing Nwaneri’s future, the Gunners are eyeing the England Under-21 international as a central midfielder going forward.

However, the arrival of Martin Odegaard and the signing of Eberechi Eze meant that Nwaneri was third at number 10 last season, although neither of the first two stood out consistently.

Odegaard’s future has been in doubt after a few years of injury, while Eze could play more games on the left side next season if both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard leave.

Arsenal are expected to bring in at least two back-up strikers, however – Christos Tzolis and Morgan Rogers leading the way – so Nwaneri won’t be guaranteed regular minutes anytime soon.

If the Premier League’s youngest player fails to prove himself in pre-season, the curtain could come down early on his Arsenal career, after 10 goals and two assists in 51 games in all competitions.

Stefan Schwarz was talking to him Sports mole on behalf of William Hill for England’s 2026 World Cup.