Mikel Arteta tipped to sell Arsenal star Ethan Nwaneri this summer

Mikel Arteta has been tipped to sell Ethan Nwaneri this summer, with former Arsenal striker Alan Smith suggesting the manager may not fully trust the young midfielder. Nwaneri, who burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old in 2022, featured 26 times in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, scoring four goals and providing two assists. However, his playing time diminished last season as Arsenal won the title, leading to a loan move to Marseille in January. An underwhelming spell in France has raised doubts about his future at the Emirates.

Smith's Concerns Over Nwaneri's Role

Speaking to BestBettingSites.co.uk, Smith said: 'As an academy product, it's pure profit, isn't it? And he hasn't had much of a sniff at all and then went out on loan. I think as a manager, as a club, you're always a bit reluctant to let a talent like that go who you've nurtured, but with the financial regulations it could free up money to buy elsewhere. So we'll see on that. But the player himself might feel that he could do with a move if he feels the gaffer doesn't really have trust in him.'

Arteta's Previous Warning

Arteta had earlier warned Nwaneri that being an academy graduate would not guarantee a long-term place. 'At the end, what has to define this football club is to seek for excellence and seek for the best, regardless if you're coming from the academy or abroad. If we can have players from Hale End, much better because the identity is there. But at the end they have to earn it. Not for a week, not for a month, for years. Like anybody else, it doesn't matter what department or role you have in the club. You have to sustain performance and that has to be at the very highest level if we want to win and be where we want to be.'

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