Arsenal and Wilfried Zaha: Reiss Nelson loan season not helpful

Arsenal have reportedly offered Reiss Nelson on loan as a part of the Wilfried Zaha deal. However, that is not the most helpful move for the 19-year-old’s development.

For Reiss Nelson, this want meant to be the season that he would explode into the Arsenal first team. After a tentative breakthrough two years ago thanks to a brilliant pre-season tour down under, Nelson left for Hoffenheim on a year-long loan last summer in search of regular first-team football.

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That was meant to be the making of him. And for a few months, it was. Six goals and an assist in his first eight appearances, only three of which were starts. Things were unquestionably on the up for the burgeoning winger.

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But then he slipped out of Julian Nagelsmann’s thinking. A back problem and niggling thigh injury kept him out of action temporarily and by the end of the season, he was little more than a bit-part player, making just ten substitute appearances since the turn of the year, scoring only one goal. Nevertheless, Nelson returned to Arsenal this summer with high hopes. Unai Emery talked him up, Nelson himself expressed his desire to earn a starting role, and expectations were high. This was meant to be Nelson’s year.

In the meantime, Arsenal have been desperately searching for much-needed help in the wide positions, Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha their main and most coveted target. Zaha, though, is valued at £80 million and will take some chasing. Even if the Ivorian submits a transfer request amid his desires to depart, it will be difficult for the Gunners to stump up the cash.

As a result, several different players have been highlighted as potential trade baits, Carl Jenkinson and Calum Chambers chief among them. And this week, it was revealed by The Independent that Nelson was now being offered to Palace on a year-long loan to help depreciate the somewhat egregious Zaha price.

I can understand Unai Emery’s thinking here. Zaha’s arrival would limit the opportunities for Nelson and another loan, like last summer, may be the best course of action to ensure that he is given regular minutes at a high level. But Nelson’s development stalled after a fast start to his loan in Germany last season. It might be time to keep him at the club and throw him into the fire.

Loan deals are invaluable for larger teams to provide first-team opportunities for their younger players, but if they are relentlessly exploited season after season, the players can stagnate and eventually fall out of favour altogether. At some point, you have to play them at your own risk, not relying on another manager to start them. Just ask Chuba Akpom or Joel Campbell or Emiliano Martinez.

Nelson needs to play, yes, but he needs to play at Arsenal, not somewhere else on loan. Using him as a makeweight in any Zaha deal, therefore, is not helpful.