Ethan Nwaneri, dat young Arsenal boy wey dem send go Marseille on loan, still dey find him way for France. The pikin no dey see regular playing time, and Marseille manager Habib Beye don come explain wetin dey happen.
Nwaneri reach Marseille with plenty hope. As one of Arsenal top young talents, many people think say Ligue 1 go give am better chance to play pass Premier League. But since Roberto De Zerbi leave Marseille and Habib Beye take over, Nwaneri no start single match. All five appearances wey him make na from bench.
Habib Beye talk say the Arsenal loanee no still adapt to French football style. “He’s a big talent who needs to adapt to the intensity of Ligue 1,” Beye tell journalist Matt Spiro. “He looks like the ideal replacement for Mason Greenwood, but we have several quality players to choose from. He must understand he’s come to a very, very high-level club.”
But some people no gree with Beye explanation. Nwaneri na the youngest player for Premier League history, and him don show say he fit play for Mikel Arteta system wey demanding well well. Premier League na one of the toughest leagues for world, so why Ligue 1 go hard am? Nwaneri even score just 13 minutes after him debut for Marseille, when him barely train with new teammates for one day. Him score again against Lille recently.
Meanwhile, for Arsenal side, Kieran Gibbs talk say Declan Rice absence affect team for FA Cup defeat against Southampton. Rice miss the match after no play for England during international break. With Martin Zubimendi no risk because of knee injury, Christian Norgaard nearly carry midfield alone and Southampton overrun am.
Gibbs talk for ESPNFC say, “From the start they looked vulnerable from the counter attack which we haven’t seen too much from Arsenal. Declan Rice was big miss in that respect.” But the former Arsenal left-back believe say the defeat no go spoil Arsenal season. “If ever there was a time to have these performances in the last couple of games with these results the time is now,” Gibbs add.
Norgaard, the Denmark international, talk say Arsenal players get positive body language after the loss. “Now is not the time to go with our heads down for too long,” Norgaard talk. “It’s fine to be frustrated tonight and also tomorrow to analyse what went wrong, but then we also have to look forward because there are so many big games coming up for this club.”
For other Ligue 1 news, Paul Pogba dey back for AS Monaco squad for their match against Olympique Marseille tonight. Monaco coach Sebastien Pocognoli hint say Pogba fit for matchday squad on Friday. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder don recover from calf injury wey him get before Christmas. Pogba impress for friendly win against Brentford last week where him score. Dem expect am to start from bench tonight.
Roberto De Zerbi, the former Marseille coach, don return to Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur. But reports show say North London no be him first choice. The Italian tactician reportedly approach Manchester United about their manager vacancy before signing with Spurs, but dem reject am. That rejection dey boost Michael Carrick chances to remain as United caretaker manager.
United decision dey work for dem as dem don stabilise and dey hunt for Champions League football. Dem dey third for Premier League table with 55 points, six points ahead of Liverpool. Carrick record of only one defeat for 10 matches don make strong case for am to continue. For De Zerbi side, Tottenham dey 17th place, just one point above relegation zone with seven matches remain.
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