Roberto De Zerbi has wasted little time setting out his vision for Ethan Nwaneri, with the Marseille head coach indicating that the Arsenal teenager could be fast-tracked straight into his matchday squad following his arrival in the south of France.
Nwaneri, who has Nigerian heritage, landed in Marseille on Wednesday to complete a loan move from North London, becoming the latest young talent trusted to develop under De Zerbi’s guidance at the Stade Vélodrome.
The England Under-21 international joins alongside Feyenoord midfielder Quinten Timber, as Marseille look to inject energy and technical quality into their squad for the second half of the season.
A familiar development route
The move mirrors a pathway that has previously delivered success for Arsenal, most notably in the case of William Saliba. The French defender spent time on loan in Ligue 1, including a spell at Marseille, before returning to establish himself as a cornerstone of Arsenal’s back line.
Nwaneri now hopes to follow a similar trajectory, using regular minutes in a demanding environment to accelerate his progress.
De Zerbi made clear this week that he sees both new arrivals as immediate options rather than long-term projects. Speaking with obvious enthusiasm, the Italian coach highlighted the qualities that convinced Marseille to move quickly.
“As far as Timber and Nwaneri, they are two strong players, and I’m really happy to have them in the squad,” De Zerbi said.
“They could be ready as early as Saturday. These are two quality players, for sure. Timber also has experience and Nwaneri has talent, he is a very high potential player.”
Why Marseille won the race
Despite interest from Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, Nwaneri opted for Marseille, believing the club offers the right balance of responsibility, pressure and opportunity.
The intensity of Ligue 1, combined with the expectations of playing in front of the Vélodrome crowd, is viewed as an ideal testing ground for his development.
Arsenal’s faith in the arrangement has been underlined by close communication between Mikel Arteta and De Zerbi.
Those discussions are understood to have been central to the deal, with the Gunners confident that Marseille can provide the competitive minutes Nwaneri needs at this stage of his career.
