Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has signalled his intention to fold Ethan Nwaneri into the club's first-team setup, citing a notably mature pre-season showing from the 19-year-old teenager.

Nwaneri spent the second half of the 2025/26 season on loan at Olympique de Marseille — a stint Arteta acknowledged was far from smooth — but the Arsenal boss believes the experience has shaped the youngster in ways that matter.

Arteta's assessment

Speaking on the club's official website, Arteta was candid about how the loan unfolded. "He's been really good. Probably, his loan at Marseille wasn't what he expected. There was a lot of noise and change around the club," the manager said.

"But he looks different and more mature. He's incredible at that. That's what six months can do to you. It's a different experience to be on your own, to go through tough times and witness another part of football that you have to be good enough to cope with."

Arteta concluded: "I'm very happy with what he's done in preseason."

A record-holder with unfinished business

Nwaneri holds a unique place in Premier League history — he remains the competition's youngest-ever player, having made his debut at 15 years and 181 days in September 2022. A product of Arsenal's Hale End academy, his development has not always followed a straight line.

During the 2024/25 campaign, he contributed nine goals across 37 appearances in all competitions before Arteta opted to send him out on loan to Marseille. Despite reported interest from clubs across Europe and speculation over a permanent transfer, the manager's comments suggest Nwaneri is firmly in his thinking for the season ahead.

A long-term contract extension, signed in 2025, underlines Arsenal's confidence in the teenager's potential — and Arteta appears eager to see that investment pay off on the pitch.