Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares made a perfect start to life on loan by scoring a stunning goal on debut for Marseille on Sunday.
Tavares left the Gunners to join Marseille on a season-long loan on July 30 and he has wasted no time in impressing at his new side. He found the back of the net in Marseille’s thumping 4-1 win over Stade Reims in a game which had a real Arsenal feel to it.
The 22-year-old was deployed in a left-wing back role by new manager Igor Tudor and seemed to enjoy the attacking freedom the position gave him. Just before half-time his run in behind the Reims defence was picked out by a raking long ball and Tavares cut back inside onto his right foot to fire a powerful low finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The effort was all the more impressive considering it came on his weaker right foot and when he appeared to be off balance. His jubilant celebrations came alongside former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who was sold to Marseille for around £9million last month following a successful loan spell in the 2021/22 season.
Tavares also came up against another Arsenal loanee on Sunday, with Folarin Balogun scoring on his Reims debut. The 21-year-old striker, who spent last season with Middlesbrough, headed in a bouncing cross in the 84th minute to get his side a consolation goal.
Tavares joined Arsenal in a £7million deal from Benfica last summer and made 28 appearances across all competitions last season. But the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko in a £32m transfer from Manchester City pushed him down the pecking order at left-back and prompted a loan move.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Can Nuno Tavares return and become a success at Arsenal? Comment below.
The Portuguese Under-21 international struggled on occasion during his debut Arsenal season and the hope is that he can develop his game in France. There is an obvious case study for Tavares to aspire to, with William Saliba now in the Arsenal first team following three years spent on loan in France.
Saliba initially joined Arsenal in a £27m deal from Saint-Etienne in July 2019, but spent the next three seasons on loan with Saint-Etienne, Nice and Marseille before making his return this summer. The 21-year-old put in an assured debut in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Friday, with Arsenal being hailed for their approach to Saliba’s development.
With Nuno out on loan, Arsenal have Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney as their options at left-back. Zinchenko started the win over Palace on Friday and marked his debut with an assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s opening goal before Tierney came off the bench in the second half.
The Ukraine international offers tactical flexibility to Mikel Arteta, given he can play in midfield as well as anywhere on the left side of the pitch. Arsenal will look to build on their opening day win when they take on Leicester City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
