Arsenal vs BATE Borisov: Reiss Nelson plan needs clarifying

Arsenal have been utilizing Reiss Nelson out of position all year, but when does that end and he is finally given a chance to play in his comfort zone?

Arsenal’s ongoing theme with their young players in the Europa League is to stick to the plan. No matter the circumstances, stick to the plan. And that is looking ever more the case with Arsene Wenger likely to start Jack Wilshere along with Olivier Giroud and/or Danny Welbeck in a match against BATE Borisov that means absolutely nothing.

Given the nature of the game, it seemed like a prime opportunity to do something that is long overdue as well as something that we’ve been calling for for quite some time – let Reiss Nelson play his primary position.

It isn’t even a matter of giving him what he wants, although that is a factor too. Nelson said that he wanted to play in advanced roles but would play wherever he was needed. For now anyway.

But beyond that, you have to think about his future. Do we really expect him to play wingback in the future or is Wenger just doing this to add to his skill set? Either way, this is a question that needs to be answered.

I really don’t think that Nelson has a future at wingback. He’s got about as much of a future there as Marmalade (the Ox) did, and he left because of how little he wanted that. You can move players around and try to maximize their abilities, but in the end, they know what they want out of their careers and if Nelson wants to be an attacker, then so be it.

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That’s not to say I totally disagree with what we’ve been doing. I think getting him some defensive skills and diversifying his skill set is just as grand as the next guy. But when you have games that don’t mean a lick, like this one, I don’t see why you can’t throw someone else at right back and give him a chance to go have fun and try out all the new things he has learned.

Maybe I’m overreacting, as he is only 17 and there is plenty of time to develop him. But my biggest reason for lashing out on this subject (again) is just that I can’t help but wonder if he couldn’t have a bigger role in this club if we just let him prove himself in the role he will be playing.

Because if the goal is to have him play wingback, then I feel like we’re failing him as a club, assuming that it still isn’t what he wants. And if the goal is for him to play in the attack, then why haven’t we tested if he is ready to play in the attack?

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We will just have to wait and see. I am quite certain he will be playing at wingback again today, but maybe Wenger can drop a surprise.

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