Ethan Nwaneri slammed by French media despite scoring in Arsenal loan | Football | Sport
Ethan Nwaneri shooting for Marseille. (Image: Getty)
Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri sent a message to his parent club after netting a second goal for Marseille in their 2-1 loss to Lille. However, French media outlets were far less flattering about his overall display. Nwaneri, who left the Emirates in January seeking regular first-team opportunities in France, was once more relegated to the bench by manager Habib Beye on Sunday in what proved a vital encounter in the battle for a Champions League spot.
Since Roberto De Zerbi’s exit, the 19-year-old has failed to earn a starting spot, but was introduced into the match against Lille sooner than anticipated after Mason Greenwood sustained an injury and was withdrawn in the 18th minute. He was picked out in the penalty area and broke the deadlock just before the interval, but Nwaneri’s side couldn’t maintain their advantage.
An 86th-minute winner from former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud condemned Marseille to defeat, with Nwaneri already substituted as manager Beye removed him in the 76th minute. Despite his first-half strike, French press remain unconvinced by the talented Arsenal loanee.
Nwaneri claimed his second goal for Marseille, his previous effort arriving on his debut against Lens just a day after joining the club, was. He also provided an assist from the substitutes’ bench in a pivotal triumph over Lyon at the start of the month.
However, whilst local publication La Provence acknowledged the importance of his goal, it stated that for the remainder of the match, he failed to deliver as anticipated.
A report read: “He deserves credit for opening the scoring after coming on for Greenwood, but didn’t have much influence on the rest of the game. Beye substituted him, bringing on Traore, who was virtually invisible.”
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Online outlet GFNF agreed. Their report stated: “After a stop and start spell it was the hosts that ended up opening the scoring after some great work from Igor Paixao.
Ethan Nwaneri continues to get criticised in France. (Image: Getty)
“He stood up a cross to meet Nwaneri’s late run and the Englishman met it with a lovely cushioned finish on the volley to open the scoring just before the break.”
However, when assessing Nwaneri’s display, it claimed: “The Englishman came on after Greenwood’s concussion injury and managed to find his second goal in OM colours this season.
“He gradually felt his way into the game and his late run was smart and the finish on the half volley was exceptional. He did however, regress in the second period, losing the ball on several occasions when OM were looking to break quickly.”
Regarding Nwaneri’s overall performance, Foot Mercato reached a similar conclusion to other outlets, suggesting that as the match wore on, he became progressively ineffective.
They wrote: “Greenwood, brought down by the Lille player, ultimately had to leave the field and was replaced by Nwaneri in the 18th minute.
“He was a bit sloppy on his first touches, but he finally broke the deadlock by perfectly converting a cross from Paixao. Less prominent as the minutes ticked by, he was eventually called back to the bench.”
