Liverpool legend, Steven Gerrard has given credit to Mikel Arteta for allowing Arsenal to make a very smart January loan deal for Ethan Nwaneri.
The Gunners have decided to send Nwaneri, 18, to the French team, Marseille for the remainder of the season.
Nwaneri became the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League when he first played for Arsenal in 2022 at the age of 15.
The teenage midfielder had a really good season with Arsenal last year, playing in 37 matches across all competitions and becoming an important part of Arteta’s team.
Because of his good performance, people thought Nwaneri would keep playing well this season and help the Gunners who are trying to win the title.
But so far, he has only played in three games, and all of them were in cup matches.
Even though it was tough for a while, Arsenal originally wanted Nwaneri to stay in North London and take advantage of being part of a team that might finally end the club’s 22-year wait for a championship.
Nwaneri, however, let Arsenal know that moving to Marseille was appealing because he wants to play more and is excited about playing in a different league and a new country.
The England under-21 player joins a Marseille team that is currently third in Ligue 1, eight points behind the surprise leaders Lens, and placed mid-table in the Champions League group stage.
Nwaneri will play for a team where Roberto De Zerbi is the manager, and Gerrard is sure that the former Brighton manager will help develop Arsenal’s young talent.
When asked about young players moving on loan overseas, former Liverpool captain, Gerrard shared his thoughts on TNT Sports, saying, “I love it, I love it. If this works, everyone has the chance to benefit from it.
“Mikel Arteta has been extremely clever in this move because he’s sending him to De Zerbi, who has a history of helping players get better.
“He will provide him with the time, education, and development he requires. He will get more playing time with Marseille, and if he experiences the league and things like tonight, it won’t hurt his growth.
“He’s really good at what he does, and now he just needs to gain some experience. This should help him a lot in the future.”