Arsenal: Reiss Nelson piggy-backing on Jack Wilshere ‘dream’

Arsene Wenger has backed Jack Wilshere to fulfill his Arsenal dream, but his inspiring statements inadvertently extend to Reiss Nelson as well.

Arsenal was supposed to have their long-term problems solved by the emergence of Jack Wilshere but, as you all know, injuries intervened. Eight years after he was anointed the savior following his first team debut at 17, he is only now returning to health and even then, we don’t know how long that will last.

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Arsene Wenger has backed Wilshere to accomplish his dream and fight his way back into the starting XI. “It’s a dream for all of us,” Wenger said (via the Telegraph), in reference to Wilshere’s past, present and future and how important he was to the club.

But the positive pep talk from Wenger doesn’t stop at Wilshere, even though that was the only name he dropped.

Wenger put added emphasis on how special a player has to be to get his debut at 17.

His words: “You have to be convinced to play a boy at 17 that he is a special player.”

Well, then. Doesn’t this also then extend to Reiss Nelson? Nelson will be 17 until December of this year and if he doesn’t get his first-team opportunity by then, there will be questions asked. Nelson is the most exciting talent to shoot through the ranks, arguably since Wilshere, which is why I’m making this parallel at all.

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When Wilshere was first making his rise, there was so much attached to his growth. He was the future of club and country and obviously that all fell short, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a next future.

If you have to be special to play at such a high level at 17, then Nelson is, by extension, just as special as Wilshere, because the club is much more crowded than it was when Wilshere first broke through, yet Nelson is right there, ready and deserving of his first proper chance.

Doncaster may provide that chance. Jack Wilshere scored his first ever professional goal in the League cup at the age of 16 and Nelson could be following right on his heels if he’s given the chance to flex his ability in the same competition.

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There is room for Nelson in the first team and, granted, there is also no reason to rush him, but when the talent and the determination is there, opportunities have to be made, and this is certainly a fantastic opportunity for Nelson to solidify his status as the next big thing.