Ethan Nwaneri transfer news: Marseille are in talks with Arsenal over loan

Arsenal are having an excellent season and are seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, have a perfect 100% record in the Champions League and have reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup seven points ahead of Chelsea from the first leg.

The Gunners are hoping to end their wait for a title this season, and have signed a number of players including midfielder Martin Zobimendi, Eze and, despite his struggles, striker Victor Gjukeris as ‘win now’ signings.

This means that coach Mikel Arteta has considered using experienced players to get results, with Odegaard and Zobimendi preferred in midfield, while the Spaniard has preferred both Ricardo Calafiore and Piero Hincapie at left-back this season.

Hincapie has title-winning experience having been part of the Bayer Leverkusen side that won the Bundesliga in the 2023-2024 season.

This made things difficult for Nwaneri’s fellow academy graduate, Miles Lewis Skelly.

Lewis Skelly also made the most of his opportunity during Arsenal’s injury crisis last season, making 42 appearances in all competitions, including playing in both legs of the impressive Champions League quarter-final win over Real Madrid.

Lewis Skelly’s performances were so good that he was handed an England debut by Thomas Tuchel, scoring against Albania in a 2-0 win, and looked set to be the Three Lions’ starting left-back at the World Cup.

Getting game time has not been difficult for Lewis Skelly and he has started nine of his 23 matches this season, but has made just one start in the Premier League and has withdrawn from the England squad.

It will always be difficult for young players to make the transition from the academy to the first team at a club like Arsenal without any drop in their level.

But after two fantastic seasons for Lewis Skelly and Nwaniri, it looks like the development path will be a little different to what the duo imagined at the start of the season.