French media are not impressed by Ethan Nwaneri’s performance, despite him assisting the winning goal scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 18-year-old, currently on loan from Arsenal, contributed to Marseille’s thrilling late victory over Lyon. He made the assist in stoppage time, adding excitement to the match in Southern France.
Nwaneri is facing challenges in Ligue 1. After the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, he has struggled to maintain a starting position.
He was anticipated to gain important experience and regular play at Marseille, but currently, he is often starting from the bench.
French media critical of Ethan Nwaneri’s recent performance for Marseille
Photo by CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP via Getty Images
Le Phoceen, a local publication in Marseille, expressed disappointment with Nwaneri’s display against Lyon.
He came off the bench and played 36 minutes at Stade Velodrome, making a notable impact by assisting the winning goal.
Lyon initially took the lead just three minutes into the match, but Igor Paixao equalized for Marseille shortly before the hour mark.
Aubameyang then secured a vital win for Marseille with a brace in stoppage time, turning around Lyon’s lead which had been re-established in the 76th minute.
Despite Nwaneri’s assist, Le Phoceen assigned him a rating of 5.5/10, suggesting it would have been lower without that contribution.
The publication remarked: “A tough half-hour with technical errors and little impact on the game. However, the key moments changed everything: his perfect cross in stoppage time ensured victory for OM. A crucial pass that had a significant impact on the match’s outcome.”
“Without this contribution, his rating would have been harsher. With it, he improved his overall performance and became decisive.”
Nwaneri is under pressure as he plays for a major club early in his career. This experience should aid in his development.
He is still highly valued at Arsenal, with hopes he will soon receive more chances in France. He has shown promise in training; now, he needs to translate that into consistent match performance.