Habib Beye on Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri: ‘There are still aspects of his game that need to be much stronger.’ | OneFootball

Ethan Nwaneri (19) joined Olympique de Marseille on loan from Arsenal during the January transfer window. The Englishman hit the ground running, starting at the first opportunity and netting on his debut in a 3-1 win over RC Lens. 

He then started the next two Ligue 1 games under Roberto De Zerbi, but the Italian departed. Playing under the Italian manager, now at Tottenham Hotspur, was one of the reasons that Arsenal sent their prospect out to OM in the first place.

Minutes have been harder to come by under Habib Beye. Nwaneri has yet to start a game under the former Stade Rennais and Red Star manager. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game against AS Monaco, he justified why. 

Beye says Nwaneri ‘needs to adapt to Ligue 1’

“He is a great talent who needs to adapt to Ligue 1 and its intensity,” began Beye in a press conference attended by Get French Football News. “Against Lille, he scored, but there are still aspects of his game that need to be much stronger.”

Beye continued, “He needs to understand that he is arriving at a really top-level club. What is good is that he scored with his national team (a brace in a 4-1 win over Andorra).” With Mason Greenwood out of the game against Monaco due to suspension, Nwaneri could be handed a chance to impress from the start for the first time under Beye.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle