The 18-year-old loanee, recently praised at home, faces scathing reviews in France following a tough half in Marseille’s heavy defeat to PSG.
Arsenal’s highly-rated teenage prospect Ethan Nwaneri has faced a brutal welcome from the French press after a difficult outing for loan club Olympique de Marseille, who were thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who joined Marseille in January, was substituted at halftime after struggling to make an impact. French media outlets were merciless in their post-match ratings, with one publication awarding him a damning 1 out of 10.
Foot Mercato described Nwaneri as “invisible, lacking direction,” while Le Phoceen called his performance “disastrous,” noting he was “unable to create any openings” and his “attacking contribution [was] nonexistent.”
The harsh reviews mark a sudden shift for the young Englishman, who scored on his debut for Marseille just weeks ago.
His mixed start in France had already included a controversial moment where the referee admitted Nwaneri should have been sent off in a previous cup match for a tackle on Glen Kamara.
Back in England, some Arsenal observers watched the situation with a tinge of frustration. Noted journalist and Arsenal follower Charles Watts expressed concern over the loan timing just before fellow midfielder Mikel Merino suffered a long-term injury.
“My purely selfish preference was to keep the squad as strong as possible until the summer,” Watts wrote on social media, acknowledging the loan’s benefit for Nwaneri’s development but worrying about Arsenal’s own depth.
Offering some protection for his young player, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi shifted some blame from Nwaneri’s shoulders. “He wasn’t having a great night; he wasn’t getting much support from his teammates,” De Zerbi said. “He needed to be protected, like all young players.”
The experience serves as a stark reminder of the intense scrutiny and steep learning curve awaiting top prospects on high-profile loans, as Nwaneri navigates the pressures of first-team football away from the protective environment of North London.
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