Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri endured a tough outing as Marseille suffered a 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. The 18-year-old midfielder started on the right flank but was substituted at halftime after a lackluster first half.
Nwaneri’s Loan Journey Hits New Low
Mikel Arteta approved Nwaneri’s January move from Arsenal to Marseille to secure regular first-team minutes. The teenager impressed on his Ligue 1 debut, scoring against Lens and signaling a bright future. However, form dipped with a poor showing against Paris FC and an early exit in a cup match following a heavy challenge.
Sunday’s clash against rivals PSG marked rock bottom. Marseille were dismantled, and Nwaneri struggled to influence proceedings before Roberto De Zerbi hooked him at the break.
French Media Delivers Harsh Verdicts
Local outlet La Provence lambasted Nwaneri’s display in his fourth appearance for the club. The publication highlighted his failure to match debut standards, stating: “Since his debut, which culminated in a goal against Lens, the Englishman has been unable to replicate that performance. This match, experienced as a starter, seemed far too big for his 18 years. Replaced by Igor Paixao at the start of the second half, he tried to motivate his team-mates. But this was in a way that was too haphazard and disorganised.”
La Provence also questioned the value of young imports, adding: “What is the point of blaming players who know nothing, or almost nothing, of what OM represents and who we can already bet will either have left or be on the transfer market next summer.”
RMC Sport echoed the criticism during live coverage, noting: “Nwaneri isn’t technically precise enough and Marseille are chasing the ball.” After the substitution, commentators observed: “The Englishman struggled a lot in the first half. Mason Greenwood will now be able to return to his preferred position.” The channel described the overall result as “a terrible humiliation for OM,” with Marseille outclassed and slipping in the Champions League race.
Eurosport France placed less direct blame on Nwaneri, who performed “without success” before exiting. Instead, it unleashed on De Zerbi’s squad: “[It was a] total humiliation. His Marseille are a laughingstock. Disoriented, disorganised, completely lost, even though the summer investments had raised hopes for a successful season. In the long history of PSG-OM matches, the gap between the two teams has never been so wide. This evening could be a turning point, a game-changer, because it could seal De Zerbi’s fate. It’s hard to see how the Italian manager could emerge unscathed from this debacle.”
