Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri Set to Join Borussia Dortmund on Season-Long Loan

Ethan Nwaneri is heading to Germany to seal a season-long loan at Borussia Dortmund, with the Arsenal teenager set to get the regular game time he's been missing out on at the Emirates.

The Athletic reports the deal will not include an option to buy at the end of the season, but both clubs agreed the young winger simply needs to be playing week in, week out, something Arsenal couldn't promise him right now.

Dortmund's interest has been building for a while, but it's been sharpened by an ACL injury to new signing Giannis Konstantelias, who now faces a long spell out.

Nwaneri didn't make the squad for Arsenal's Community Shield win over Manchester City, nor for Monday's 1-0 league victory against Aston Villa. He was an unused sub in the season opener against Coventry City too, leaving little doubt about where he currently sits in the pecking order.

Arteta had already dropped hints this summer that a loan might be on the cards, pointing to how packed his attacking options are. Speaking recently, he said he wanted Nwaneri to stay at the club long term, but stressed the teenager needs to be playing football. He added that if Nwaneri stayed, it would only be because his minutes could be guaranteed, otherwise it wouldn't do the player any good.

This will mark Nwaneri's second loan in a row after spending the second half of last season at Marseille. He didn't start a single league match for Arsenal before that move.

There had been talk over the summer that another academy graduate, Myles Lewis-Skelly, might also leave the club. That hasn't happened, and he's held down a regular spot in midfield since the season kicked off.

Arsenal's forward line remains stacked, giving Arteta plenty of options but also plenty of tough calls. Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Christos Tzolis all started against Villa, while Eberechi Eze came off the bench. Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke stayed on the bench throughout. Arsenal are also set to lose Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, who are both expected to move on.