Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly considering recalling winger Marquinhos from his loan spell at French club Nantes in January. The Brazilian, who is just 20 years old, has struggled for game time since joining Nantes and has only made one start, playing a total of 88 minutes in Ligue 1.

Disappointing Loan Spell

Marquinhos was sent out on loan by Arsenal to Nantes during the summer transfer window with hopes that he would benefit from regular game time. However, the loan spell has not gone as expected, as Nantes has failed to provide the winger with enough opportunities to showcase his talent. This will no doubt disappoint both manager Arteta and sporting director Edu.

Interest from Other Clubs

During the summer, Marquinhos was the subject of interest from several other clubs. Greek giants Olympiakos were close to securing a loan deal for the young winger before Nantes swooped in. Nottingham Forest also expressed interest, but ultimately opted for Nuno Tavares. Italians Bologna, Empoli, and Frosinone were also interested in signing Marquinhos.

Return to Arsenal

According to a report by the Mirror, Arteta is keen to bring Marquinhos back to Arsenal if his situation at Nantes does not improve. The plan would be to recall him and send him out on loan elsewhere to gain first-team experience. Arsenal's loan manager Ben Knapper has been closely monitoring all of the club's players out on loan, including Marquinhos.

Potential Break Clause

It is unclear if a break clause was included in the loan contract between Arsenal and Nantes, but a termination of the loan could still be possible if both sides agree that it would benefit the player. Marquinhos signed for Arsenal in 2022 for £3 million and made a memorable debut for the club, scoring in a 2-1 Europa League win over FC Zurich.

Last season, Marquinhos went on loan to Norwich City during the January transfer window, but he struggled to make an impact, scoring just once in 11 games.