Arteta says Arsenal want to keep Super Eagles target Nwaneri

Mikel Arteta has made clear that Arsenal want to keep Ethan Nwaneri, but the teenager’s future depends on whether the club can provide regular first-team football. Nwaneri, who has been linked with the Nigeria national team, was left out of Arsenal’s 3-0 Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

Arteta’s position gives Arsenal a clear condition to meet. The manager wants Nwaneri to remain in north London, but only if the club can offer him enough minutes over the medium and long term. If that pathway is unavailable, a transfer could become the more suitable option for the 19-year-old.

Nwaneri had featured during pre-season but was not included in the squad for the first competitive match of the campaign. Arteta later pointed to the Premier League’s limit of nine substitutes as a reason it was difficult to select every player he wanted. He has also argued that matchday squads should be expanded to 23 players, as they are in UEFA competitions.

The midfielder is one of Arsenal’s most highly rated academy graduates. He became the club’s youngest player and the Premier League’s youngest player when he debuted at 15 in September 2022. After signing a contract that runs until 2030 in August 2025, he spent the second half of last season at Marseille, where he made nine Ligue 1 appearances, played 322 minutes, scored twice and supplied one assist. He also appeared twice in the Coupe de France.

His limited opportunities in France have added to the focus on his next step. AC Milan, RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Fulham have all been linked with a move, while Galatasaray has also been mentioned in discussions involving several Arsenal players. A possible connection to a deal for Victor Osimhen remains unconfirmed. Milan has reportedly discussed a move that could include a buy-back provision, while Dortmund’s record of developing young players could appeal to Nwaneri.

Arsenal’s recent form includes three successive 1-0 victories over Burnley, West Ham and Atlético Madrid, following a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace and a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain. Their next fixture is at home to Coventry in the Premier League on 21 August, when Nwaneri’s availability will again be closely watched.