The one thing most people took from the dead Champions League rubber against PSV was the performance of Reiss Nelson.
Back in the last days of Emery, I was frustrated that he wasn’t getting selected, having watched him through the youth teams, looking like a fine prospect. His path was interrupted by the emergence of a certain Bukayo Saka, who’d also shone in youth games. That the younger man got in first was a surprise and I first thought, a strange decision. Just shows how little we know when we just watch from the sidelines!
Injury then stifled Nelson’s progress and his future looked to be bleak. Yet he stuck with it and nobody can forget that stunning 97th minute winning goal against Bournemouth last season.
I watched him in the EFL Trophy a few weeks back. A ‘senior’ player in the U21 side facing Reading, he was the star, winning duels, setting up a goal and the man of the match from a Gooner’s perpective. And if that didn’t get his name in lights back at the training ground, surely last night’s performance against PSV did.
Of course, Saka is again in his way to a regular slot in Premier League fixtures, as are Martinelli and Trossard (Nelson has played on both wings, if I recall correctly). It was interesting, though, that for fifteen minutes, while Mikel Arteta was experimenting with Rice at centre half, Nelson seemed to be taking up more of a central midfield role. Another avenue for him?
As a supporter who loves to watch home-grown talent flourish in the first team (welcome back Emile!), I so hope he can find a spot in our team to showcase his talents – but not because of an injury to Bukayo!
Richard Smith 13/12/23 Image from Reading vs Arsenal U21s