Steven Gerrard praises ‘very clever’ Mikel Arteta as Arsenal agree transfer | Football

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has praised Mikel Arteta for sanctioning Arsenal’s ‘extremely clever’ January loan for Ethan Nwaneri.

The Gunners have agreed to send Nwaneri, 18, to French side Marseille for the remainder of the season.

Nwaneri became the youngest player to play within the Premier League when he made his Arsenal debut in 2022 on the age of 15.

The teenage midfielder enjoyed a breakout season for Arsenal last term, making 37 appearances in all competitions and establishing himself as a key member of Arteta’s squad.

Given his rise, Nwaneri was expected to kick on this season and proceed to impress for the title-chasing Gunners, but as a substitute he has began just three games – all coming in cup competitions.

Despite struggling for minutes, Arsenal initially wanted Nwaneri to stay in north London and reap the advantages of being in an around a squad that would well end the club’s 22-year title drought.

But Nwaneri made it clear to Arsenal that a move to Marseille appealed as he each wants more minutes and is keen to experience not only one other league but one other country.

The England U21 star joins a Marseille side who’re third in Ligue 1 – eight points behind surprise leaders Lens and mid-table within the Champions League group phase.

Nwaneri will work under Roberto De Zerbi in France and Gerrard is adamant the previous Brighton manager will improve Arsenal’s teenage sensation.

Asked for his opinion on young players occurring loan moves abroad, ex-Liverpool captain Gerrard said on TNT Sports: ‘I adore it, I adore it. If this works, everyone generally is a winner from it.

‘Mikel Arteta has been extremely clever here because he’s sending him to De Zerbi who has a track record of improving players. He’ll give him the time and the education and the event he needs.

‘He’ll get more game-time playing for Marseille and if he samples the league, samples the experiences like tonight it’s not going to do any harm for his development.

‘He’s a top talent, now he must get some experience and this may bode well for him in the long run.’

Gerrard believes Arteta would ideally have kept Nwaneri on the Emirates Stadium but says the loan move can prove helpful for Arsenal in the long term.

‘From a selfish point of view he probably wanted to maintain him across the squad,’ Gerrard added. ‘He’s going for the Premier League and so they’re involved within the Champions League – they’re going for the quadruple at this point.

‘You wish as many options as you probably can but there’s a component of you that thinks concerning the player and where you wish him to be in the following few years.

‘If he’s going to be a top player for Arsenal one of the best thing for him is to play games, give him different experiences and test him out.

‘Hopefully in six months he comes back with more games under his belt, more experience and he’s a greater player. For sure, De Zerbi will make him a greater player.’

Gerrard’s former England teammate Joe Hart also sees the logic in Arsenal loaning out Nwaneri to Champions League side Marseille.

‘I believe it is sensible,’ the previous Three Lions goalkeeper said. ‘He obviously ultimately desires to prove himself at Arsenal – that’s what he’ll see in his future.

‘But in case you get an awesome opportunity to go to a club like Marseille with that atmosphere and coach you are taking it.

‘For the time being Arsenal are so focussed on what they’re doing, they will’t really afford to blood in children, people have to play on merit and so they’ve got an incredible squad. So I believe it works for everybody.’

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