Mikel Arteta warned 'unfair' treatment could see Arsenal star leave after £52m transfer

Ethan Nwaneri could consider quitting Arsenaldue to 'unfair' treatment, according to former Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

Nwaneri, 18, enjoyed a fine breakthrough campaign in 2024/25, scoring nine times and providing two assists in 37 appearances. The England Under 21s international was handed a run of starts when Bukayo Saka was out injured and he showed his raw talent.

Arsenal want to keep Nwaneri for the long-term and are locked in talks about agreeing a new contract. Chelsea, however, have expressed an interest in signing the London-born teenager, who has one year left on his current terms at the Emirates Stadium.

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According to Caught Offside, Nwaneri's agent is finding it difficult to get him a contract that matches other players in the Arsenal squad. Meanwhile, question marks have been raised about Nwaneri's position in the squad, as the Gunners close in on a £52m deal for Noni Madueke and pursue a deal for Eberechi Eze. Both players could end up taking valuable game time off Nwaneri.

Now, Robinson, who played for Leeds United, Tottenham, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and England, has warned Arsenal that Nwaneri's representatives could look for another club to get him the same wages as other players in the squad.

"As an academy product, you always struggle when your agent goes in for equal pay to players who have come in for big money," Robinson toldFootball Insider. "You’re not always thought of in the same bracket and you’re not always treated the same.

"As wrong as that sounds, it’s just a fact and that’s how it is. Once you’ve been at a club for such a long time, sometimes you have to move on to get that respect, that credibility in the dressing room, and that level of pay. The agent will be using that as leverage to get the new contract signed.

"You look at what he’s done, he’s still only 18, but in the position he players they’re bringing in Madueke. Where does that leave Nwaneri? If Madueke comes in, the agent’s next question will be why can’t you offer him the same wages as Madueke?

"Granted, you have to earn your stripes and at 18 years old he won’t be getting that same type of contract. But there’s got to be a certain parity and incentives in the contract. I suspect his contract offer at the moment isn’t anything like what the more senior players are on."