Arsenal: Is the faith there for a Reiss Nelson breakout year?

Arsenal have, as of yet, not opted to sign a winger, despite a clear and present need. Does this mean that Reiss Nelson is basking in the faith?

Arsenal’s most immediate needs have all been answered. That much is certain. They weren’t just answered, but they were answered conclusively and quickly. Every other need is a tertiary one, and not one that should induce much stress.

But, oh yeah, the winger situation. It is easy to forget because it is literally completely ignored. Simply put, the Gunners have no first-team wingers. They have opted for a narrow attack with focus on ball movement and creativity.

Not the worst idea, but naturally, some people don’t understand why we can’t have both options – narrow creativity and speed out wide.

The links have been there – Dembele, Coman, Bailey. They’ve all been linked with the Gunners this summer and some even took on a degree of realism before petering out.

And here we are, still without much speed or technical ability out wide. Ozil and Mkhitaryan figure to be the primary wide attackers, plus we have to factor in Aubameyang, depending on how he is used and in what formation.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

But beneath all of this, we have Reiss Nelson. The teenage sensation of last summer, Nelson did not have the season we might have wanted, but sometimes that is a fantastic launching point. Sometimes that disappointment can breed more hunger, which can give way to a greater grasping of another opportunity.

Nelson may have his opportunity this year seeing as how he is the best option we have on the wings. His speed and technical ability make him a serious threat and a veritable menace late in games, when teams have been lulled to sleep by the creative build-up of this narrow attack.

Throwing on Nelson in such a scenario, with his quick bursts and dribbling, could shake things up masterfully.

But my question is this – is Nelson the only winger because they actually have that much faith in him, or is he the only winger because they just haven’t been able to snag anyone else?

Conceivably, it could be either, but I reckon it is somewhere in between. If we do sign a winger, it will likely only be one, meaning that they would pair with Nelson to provide width on both sides. That way he isn’t buried, but he also isn’t the only option.

I guess the question now is whether they can actually land someone as the deadline inches closer.