Ethan Nwaneri's Marseille teammates have been blown away by him – but he can improve two things

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri quickly won over his Marseille team-mates but has since dropped out of the team

It took little time for Ethan Nwaneri to win over the Marseille squad but he now faces the challenge of forcing his way back into the team. The Arsenal loanee has found himself sidelined in recent weeks after an eventful few period at the club.

Nwaneri scored on his Marseille debut against Lens the day after sealing his move during the January transfer window. The 18-year-old found the net after just 13 minutes in a 3-1 win for his new club, prompting many fans to believe the Arsenal starlet would continue to thrive under manager Roberto De Zerbi.

However, not long after his star performance, Nwaneri was twice substituted at half-time. The Marseille boss explained he was protecting the teenager, only for the manager to leave the club after a 5-0 defeat to PSG in early February.

A caretaker boss briefly stepped in ahead of ex-Rennes manager Habib Beye being named De Zerbi’s permanent successor. Following Nwaneri’s debut, the club have won just one of their last six games and Marseille’s downturn has resulted in a reduced role for the Arsenal youngster.

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The 18-year-old was an unused substitute in the first game after De Zerbi’s departure, while new boss Beye brought him on for 20 minutes in a loss to Brest. Journalist Fabrice Lamperti covers Marseille for La Provence and is disappointed that Nwaneri has faced such difficulty after instantly impressing his new team-mates.

“They were blown away by his performance against Lens,” he told football.london . “Afterwards, the crisis hit everyone and Nwaneri can no longer showcase his footballing ability or talent. A real shame.”

The Arsenal loanee made four consecutive starts under De Zerbi, though he was twice taken off at the interval, including in the defeat to PSG. It has proved to be a steep learning curve for Nwaneri, who was immediately thrown into the Marseille team after struggling for minutes with Arsenal, only to find himself back on the bench.

“After Lens, everyone was enthusiastic,” Lamperti recalled. “OM still had ambitious goals ahead and Nwaneri could help the club achieve them. But then everything fell apart.

“Nwaneri had a poor game against PSG and everyone realised how much work he still had to do. It's not easy for him, having gone from being a substitute most of the time at Arsenal to an undisputed starter at OM. That's hard to grasp when you're so young.

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“In Marseille, expectations are very high and poor performances are rarely forgiven, especially when they come in quick succession. Right now, everyone is left wanting more... but the season isn't over yet.”

Despite facing several issues during his first month at the club, Nwaneri has been able to show glimpses of his best in a Marseille shirt. Based on what the midfielder has shown so far, Lamperti believes the adversity Nwaneri has faced could prove a blessing in disguise.

“His main strength is his dribbling, his ability to beat opponents,” Lamperti explained. “He also has an excellent left foot and isn't afraid to try things even after missing earlier opportunities. He seems to have great confidence in himself and his football.

“I think he can improve his decision-making: knowing when to pass or attempt a dribble and not getting stuck in a pre-prepared pattern. He also needs to become mentally stronger. In Marseille, he's certainly got what he needs!”

Nwaneri will hope to quickly impress new boss Beye as he did with the rest of the Marseille squad. He will be vying for a starting spot as the club prepare to host Lyon on Sunday.