Ethan Nwaneri’s future has become a big talking point at Arsenal.
The teenager is one of the most talented young players in the world, but he is not getting the game time he needs under Mikel Arteta.
Nwaneri has played less than 500 minutes of football in all competitions so far this season, and he is yet to start a game in the Premier League.
That has led to rumours that he could leave on loan, and Bournemouth are among the clubs interested.
If you were in Ethan Nwaneri’s shoes right now, would you stay at Arsenal or leave on loan?
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Bournemouth want to sign Ethan Nwaneri on loan
If Ethan Nwaneri is made available on loan, several clubs across Europe will want to sign him.
The teenager may still only be 18, but he has proven that he is good enough to play at the highest level against the top players.
Nwaneri’s ability to play anywhere in attack, combined with his quality to create and score goals, makes him a terrific player for most clubs.
It’s unclear what Arsenal will decide to do with the youngster, but the Daily Mail have claimed that there are suitors lining up.
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One of the clubs interested in Nwaneri is Bournemouth, whose manager, Andoni Iraola, used to be a teammate of Arteta back in Spain.
The Arsenal manager rates his compatriot so highly that he has described the work he has done at Bournemouth as ‘unbelievable’ (Arsenal.com).
The Cherries host the Gunners in the Premier League on Saturday, and the two Spanish coaches could potentially have a word with each other about Nwaneri.
In other news, Chelsea are said to be keen to sign Nwaneri too.
What’s the lowest transfer fee you would sell Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri to Chelsea for?
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What Mikel Arteta said about Ethan Nwaneri before Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Nwaneri hasn’t played for Arsenal since the game against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
The Hale End graduate was even left out of the squad when Aston Villa came to the Emirates, and there is a chance that he will miss out against Bournemouth as well.
For that reason, Arteta was asked whether Nwaneri would be available on loan this month amid all the rumours linking him away.
He replied, as per Arsenal.com: “Every player is very important, every player has a role. That role can change throughout the season for different reasons, and everybody has to be ready to play.”
That was neither a yes nor a no from the Arsenal manager, so we will have to wait and see how this pans out in the coming weeks.
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