Arsenal: Forget your Carraso’s and your Zaha’s, give me Reiss Nelson

Arsenal are on the brink of making some serious signings, but stuff all your superstar wingers in a sack and forget about them. I’d rather have Reiss Nelson.

Arsenal need to figure out what’s going on on their wings, because it’s clear that Unai Emery doesn’t want to flesh out the back three. He’d rather put together an attack that attacks and a defense that defends, with overlap, of course.

Thus, the transfer rumors are pretty self-explanatory. There have been about 829 wingers, give or take, linked with a move to the Emirates, and I’m here to tell you that they can all bugger off, because I want to see Reiss Nelson taking the reigns of the club that he loves. Why? because that’s how you get players like Aaron Ramsey—players who, while incredibly talented, find that extra level because of the club they play for.

Now, you may be confused how I can advocate for the signings of Ivan Perisic, blast the signings of Wilfried Zaha, and then say that I don’t want anyone, I want Reiss Nelson. So let me explain.

There’s a difference between filling spots and monopolizing positions. I love the prospect of having all our talented young wingers come up and run the show, but practically speaking, the flaws are pretty inherent in that strategy.

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What you’d want, therefore, is to fill the spot with someone who can float about, not demand too high wages, and serve in different capacities. That is Ivan Perisic. That is not Carrasco or Zaha. And I would need some convincing to believe that letting Carrasco or Zaha monopolize an entire wing would be more useful than having flexibility between our youth and a veteran presence who wouldn’t block anyone.

The thing is, Reiss Nelson has earned his chance, he’s thought about nothing, talked about nothing, except getting back to Arsenal from the moment he left. That is the kind of guy you want to make concessions for, not someone who has no affection for the club beyond the fact that they happen to have just been signed by them.

If we are building for the long haul, which we are, then Nelson is the answer, and less flashy signings can accompany. That is the preferred Arsenal way, isn’t it?

Which is why it was even more hilarious when there was talk that Reiss Nelson could be used as a makeweight to secure Zaha. Like, really, do we think before we say things?