Arsenal secured a series of important victories across multiple competitions this week, but attention has shifted to developments involving two of their young talents currently away from the Emirates Stadium.
Nwaneri's Controversial Marseille Appearance
Eighteen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, currently on loan at French club Marseille, found himself at the centre of a significant refereeing controversy during their Coupe de France victory over Rennes. The young midfielder received a yellow card for a first-half foul on Rennes' Glen Kamara, but visiting manager Habib Beye revealed that match officials later admitted they should have shown Nwaneri a red card instead.
"The match was altered by our early mistake and by that of the refereeing trio who had the honesty to admit it," Beye stated after the match. With no VAR system in place for the fixture, the on-field decision of a yellow card had to stand, though the admission from officials has created considerable discussion about the incident.
De Zerbi's Cautious Approach
Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi opted to withdraw Nwaneri at half-time, avoiding the risk of the teenager receiving a second yellow card. The French side went on to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory with goals from Amine Gouiri, Mason Greenwood, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, progressing to the quarter-finals of the competition.
This incident comes despite Nwaneri having made a positive impression earlier in his loan spell, scoring on his debut against Lens. Arsenal had reportedly considered recalling the youngster following Mikel Merino's foot injury, but he remains with Marseille for the remainder of the season.
Wilson's Tottenham Move Questioned
Meanwhile, Hearts manager Derek McInnes has expressed disappointment that young striker James Wilson chose to join Tottenham Hotspur on deadline day rather than remain with the Scottish Premiership leaders. The 18-year-old had been linked with Arsenal before Tottenham secured his services on a loan deal until the season's end.
"His head was turned with the Tottenham thing," McInnes explained. "First of all it was Arsenal, then Arsenal went quiet and then all of a sudden Tottenham came to the table. I don't think it's the right move for him. Ultimately, it's academy football and I think he's better than that."
Development Concerns
Wilson, who scored his first Scottish Premiership goals last season and made his senior international debut in March 2025, has seen more limited playing time this campaign. McInnes admitted he struggled to convince the promising forward to stay at Tynecastle, where he would have been part of a title-chasing squad.
"We made it clear that our preference was for him to stay and be part of something here," the Hearts manager added. "But he made the decision and I hope it goes well for him because he's a great kid and we'll see how it plays out."
Arsenal's Transfer Activity
Despite Merino's injury absence, Arsenal maintained a relatively quiet approach during the transfer window, bringing in just two teenage additions on deadline day. Young defender Jaden Dixon arrived from Stoke City, while striker Evan Mooney joined after helping St Mirren win the Scottish League Cup.
The Gunners have enjoyed a successful week on the pitch, bouncing back from their Premier League defeat to Manchester United with victories over Kairat in the Champions League, Leeds in the Premier League, and Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-final. These results have kept Arsenal competitive across multiple fronts as they pursue silverware this season.
