{"id":1754,"date":"2026-04-02T17:09:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1754"},"modified":"2026-04-02T17:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:09:03","slug":"be-careful-arsenal-criticised-over-risky-january-decision-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=1754","title":{"rendered":"‘Be careful’ – Arsenal criticised over risky January decision | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Arsenal let Ethan Nwaneri leave on loan for Ligue 1 outfit Marseille in January (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nigel Winterburn says Arsenal left themselves short and took an unnecessary risk by allowing Ethan Nwaneri to leave on loan for Marseille in January.<\/p>\n

Nwaneri made a name for himself as one of the most exciting young talents in English football last season having broken into Mikel Arteta\u2019s first-team squad aged just 15 back in 2022.<\/p>\n

But Nwaneri, now aged 19, struggled to kick on for top-of-the-table Arsenal in the first half of this campaign, limited only to substitute appearances in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Arsenal\u2019s hierarchy had initially been reluctant to consider loan offers for the Hale End academy product amid interest from the likes of West Ham and Bournemouth over the winter.<\/p>\n

However, the Gunners altered their stance when Marseille made contact to discuss a temporary agreement for the teenager, who registered four goals and two assists in the league last term.<\/p>\n

Discussions between Arsenal and Marseille progressed at a pace over the following days and Nwaneri made the trip across the Channel to complete his move to the Ligue 1 outfit before the January deadline.<\/p>\n

But just days after Nwaneri scored in a dream debut for Marseille against Lens, Arsenal were dealt a hammer blow as Mikel Merino was ruled out for a lengthy spell with a serious foot injury.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Paris\t<\/div>
Nwaneri has scored two goals in nine matches for Marseille (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Merino suffered a serious injury just days after Nwaneri left on loan (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are hopes Merino could return before the end of the season but Arsenal are taking a cautious approach with the Spaniard\u2019s rehabilitation and it appears an imminent comeback is optimistic. <\/p>\n

\u2018When January came around, I had already stated players shouldn\u2019t be going out on loan when we\u2019re competing in all four competitions,\u2019 ex-Arsenal and England defender Winterburn told PariuriX.com when asked about Nwaneri\u2019s departure on loan.<\/p>\n

\u2018You keep them all unless a player is really asking to go out on loan. You don\u2019t do anything. You never know what\u2019s going to happen with the squad.<\/p>\n

\u2018We let Nwaneri go out on loan and all of a sudden, Merino gets injured, so you need to be careful.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Arsenal\t<\/div>
Winterburn hopes to see Lewis-Skelly given more opportunities in midfield (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Myles Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a similarly explosive impact at Arsenal last season after breaking out of the academy ranks to establish himself as a genuine first-team star.<\/p>\n

However, much like Nwaneri, it\u2019s proven a tricky few months for Lewis-Skelly, with Riccardo Calafiori leapfrogging the 19-year-old in the pecking order at left-back.<\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly sent a timely reminder to Arteta of his undoubted ability while playing for the England Under-21s against Moldova during the international break.<\/p>\n

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But speculation has been swirling that Manchester United are eyeing a summer deal for the out-of-favour youngster \u2013 and Winterburn is hoping those rumours come to nothing.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ll have to wait and see at the start of next season whether the squad changes,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

\u2018Myles Lewis-Skelly last season was brilliant, but for me, I\u2019ve said all along that if you had a high percentage of ball possession, I\u2019d want him in my team. <\/p>\n

\u2018If I\u2019m playing against a fast or tricky winger, then I\u2019ll revert to Hincapie. Saying that, he had a tough time against Antoine Semenyo.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Bayer\t<\/div>
Starts have been few and far between for Lewis-Skelly this season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to Winterburn, Arteta should give Lewis-Skelly more opportunities in central midfield, which is where he rose through the ranks as a youngster in the academy.<\/p>\n

Asked who had been Arsenal\u2019s standout players this season, Winterburn replied: \u2018If I flip it all around and you\u2019d asked me at Christmas who Arsenal\u2019s players of the season would have been, then I would have said Timber and Calafiori before Calafiori got injured.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018So, that might give you a bit of an insight into why Myles Lewis-Skelly hasn\u2019t played much this season. <\/p>\n

\u2018Personally, I would love to see him play in that midfield role, and I felt for him because that\u2019s where I watched him play as a kid and when I did my co-commentating.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"England\t<\/div>
Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly shone for the England U21s on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Winterburn, widely regarded to be among Arsenal\u2019s greatest ever left-backs, hopes Lewis-Skelly is able to remain positive while \u2018pushing\u2019 hard for more minutes in training. <\/p>\n

\u2018I think Mikel Arteta just felt left back was the best position for him to come through at that time,\u2019 he went on.<\/p>\n

\u2018I felt for him when Califiori got injured, and I saw the team sheet, and I thought Myles Lewis-Skelly would play in midfield. He has to.<\/p>\n

\u2018All of a sudden, Myles Lewis-Skelly had to play left back so that was disappointing.<\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s got to keep pushing in training and work on his defensive game. He\u2019s still a very highly thought of young player.\u2019<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Dennis\t<\/div>
Winterburn won three league titles with the Gunners (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Winterburn has been massively impressed by Jurrien Timber\u2019s \u2018outstanding\u2019 form this season, which he feels has pushed Ben White to the periphery.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Timber is the outstanding, complete full-back at the club,\u2019 Winterburn, who won three league titles with the Gunners, continued, <\/p>\n

\u2018Ben White has spent a long time injured, but his combination with Saka helps Saka more. <\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s still a terrific player, but he\u2019s been out injured, so you\u2019re always fighting to come back to that real match sharpness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ve seen Mosquera play there, too, on occasions. If you\u2019re saying to me, \u201cDid Mikel Arteta leave Ben White out over Mosquera?\u201d, I would say no. <\/p>\n

\u2018There have been fitness doubts over Ben even though he\u2019s done a fantastic job for Arsenal.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think Timber\u2019s form and his injury situation this season have both held him back.\u2019<\/p>\n

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