MIKEL ARTETA has told Ethan Nwaneri he will be “thrown in with the sharks” after the teenager’s loan move to Marseille was announced.
Nwaneri, 18, has joined the French giants on loan for the remainder of the season after struggling for regular minutes in North London.
Arteta was keen for Nwaneri to play more football after starting just four games for Arsenal this term, ultimately deciding Marseille would be the right fit.
However, Arteta – who was loaned to PSG from Barcelona as a teenager himself – has told Nwaneri that it won’t be plain sailing in Ligue 1.
He said: “When they talk about the opportunity and the clubs that are interested in you to go, the first thing is excitement.
“You are willing to play, you speak to the manager, he’s very keen on you and you’re going to play at the weekend and you’re going to start a lot of games and this is all very good.
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“But one day you have to go ‘okay, pack your bags, this is the flight ticket and you have to go to Marseille.’
“And that is fear, it is insecurity, it is getting out of a place that has been really comfortable for him around his family, but then this is the thing at the end – you have to be thrown there, into the sharks in an incredible football culture and atmosphere and club and it’s going to make him so good.”
Marseille are third in Ligue 1 under the management of former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi – who has a reputation for exciting attacking football.
Arteta said that the decision to send Nwaneri to the south of France came after chats with the midfielder’s father.
He added: “After having a discussion with him, with his father, the agent and the club, we decided that the best thing to do was to leave and go on loan.
“And then we have to pick the right place, and having all the options, understand the experience that we had in Marseille as well with [William Saliba], the fact that Roberto [De Zerbi] is there and he’s an incredible developer of young talent and he’s a really courageous manager in the way he plays.
“The way he plays with young talent as well and he has a big track record about that, and I think it fits the way of playing for the qualities that we want to see for Ethan. So it’s going to be a great experience for him.”
De Zerbi has already said that Nwaneri could be in line for his debut this weekend when Marseille face title rivals Lens.
And the Hale End Graduate – who will wear the number 11 during his loan spell – is excited to get to work under his new boss, too.
Upon arriving in France, he said: “Roberto De Zerbi is one of the best managers in the world. He’s demanding.
“I’m ready to play under him and listen to what he wants for the team.”
Nwaneri signed a new five-year deal with Arsenal last summer and is considered part of the Gunners’ future.
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