It took less than a quarter of an hour for Ethan Nwaneri to become the new darling of the Stade Vélodrome. On Saturday night, January 24, 2026, the 18-year-old Arsenal loanee marked his first appearance for Olympique de Marseille with a breathtaking solo goal, helping Roberto De Zerbi’s side to a dominant 3–1 victory over title-chasers RC Lens.
Just 24 hours after his loan move from North London was finalized, Nwaneri was thrust straight into the starting XI, and he responded with a performance that has already drawn comparisons to the legendary loan spell of William Saliba.
The Goal: A "Moment of Magic"
Marseille were already leading 1–0 thanks to an early strike from Amine Gouiri (3’) when Nwaneri took center stage in the 13th minute:
The Run: Nwaneri picked up the ball just inside his own half and drove forward unchallenged through the center of the pitch.
The Finish: After weaving past a Lens defender at the edge of the box, he shifted the ball onto his favored left foot and unleashed a curling strike from 20 meters that flew into the bottom-left corner.
The Atmosphere: The goal ignited the home crowd, who had already been buzzing after the recent signings of Nwaneri and Quinten Timber.
Despite a late consolation from Lens substitute Rayan Fofana, Marseille never looked in doubt. The win moves De Zerbi’s men to 38 points, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot and dealing a massive blow to Lens' hopes of overtaking PSG at the summit of Ligue 1.
The "De Zerbi" Gamble Pays Off
Roberto De Zerbi made the bold call to rest Ligue 1 top scorer Mason Greenwood ahead of Wednesday’s vital Champions League clash against Club Brugge, opting for Nwaneri in the right-sided No. 10 role.
Roberto De Zerbi: "We knew Ethan had this quality. He is young, but he plays with the maturity of a 30-year-old. He only arrived yesterday, had one tactical meeting, and then produced that. He is a special talent."
The Verdict: While Mikel Arteta sent Nwaneri to France to "get minutes," he might have accidentally sent them a superstar. If Nwaneri continues this form, Marseille’s push for the top two—and potentially more—is very much on.