Arsenal and Reiss Nelson: Feed the ambition

Reiss Nelson has again been speaking about how he intends to become a first-team starter at Arsenal. Unai Emery must feed his ambition, not push it down.

Jadon Sancho left Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund for opportunity. In his first two years in Germany, he was provided precisely that. And boy did he take it. This move will change the course of English talent for years to come.

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In the past, English players would never be so brave to move abroad. While the rest of the world embraced the uncertainty, English players tended to stay home, believing in the superior quality of the Premier League. But as greater talent has arrived, playing time has diminished, so much so that Sancho and others like Sancho have reversed the pattern.

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One of the hottest Arsenal prospects, Reiss Nelson, is a very close friend of Sancho’s. And he made a very similar decision, moving to Hoffenheim last summer on a season-long loan. The reason? Opportunity. Nelson wanted to play regularly. Unai Emery could not guarantee that and so a loan was agreed upon.

Now Nelson returns to north London, though, but he still has his sights set on that ever-eluding precious gem of opportunity. Speaking with the Mirror, Nelson said:

"“I just want to concentrate on the opportunities I get at Arsenal. When I do get to the club, then I can concentrate on that. I have got a bit bigger. I was playing at Arsenal when I was 17, when Arsene Wenger gave me my Premier League debut against Southampton, so I was very immature when I was playing. Now I have a more mature role about me. I look to play link-up play, one vs ones — and I think I am more mature <…> It was difficult, leaving. But Arsenal are my team and I want to go back to Arsenal and play.”"

Currently away with the England under-21s at the European Championships, Nelson, now 19, will be hoping to exploit the present lack of wide attackers at the Emirates. There certainly is the chance that he could earn a starting role on either flank in Emery’s 4-3-3 system, but he must be handed that chance first.

Nelson is an extremely ambitious individual. He wants to achieve true greatness, as he has said himself in the past. He nearly left Arsenal entirely last summer as he was concerned about the lack of starting opportunities. The loan and new contract was a compromise, but the ambition was laid out most plainly. Nelson wants to play.

As Emery looks to handle one of the brightest London Hale talents in several years, he must both tailor and feed this ambition. Nelson must keep his feet on the floor, of course, but equally, he should not be restricted just because he is prepared to push himself further than others. Why not let him loose and see what he can handle?

Nelson should be handed regular starts early in the season. If he flourishes, Emery has a bargain solution to his wide problems; if he flounders, everyone knows that he is not ready and he cannot complain about not being handed opportunity. Nelson wants to follow in the footsteps of his mate. So why not see if he can?