Arsenal: The vital Reiss Nelson self-awareness

Reiss Nelson is making his way in professional football, hoping to earn a starting role at Arsenal. Crucial to his success will be his self-awareness.

Reiss Nelson is a wonderfully gifted young footballer. He has terrific speed, dribbling abilities, an eye for goal, qualities in the final third to deliver crosses and create chances. Bar being consistent, producing on a weekly basis, and ensuring that every touch is a positive one, Nelson has the perfect skill set to develop into a truly elite wide forward.

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Now back at Arsenal after a year in Germany on loan, the 19-year-old is trying to force his way into Unai Emery’s Premier League thinking. He started the first two league matches of the season but since dropped to the bench when Nicolas Pepe proved his match sharpness.

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It is a long process that requires great persistence and repeated high-level performance. While Nelson is extremely gifted and has the natural talent to make his way into the starting XI at the Emirates, expecting him to actually make the leap is somewhat foolish, such is the pitfall-laden manner of youth development.

In the past, Nelson has had lofty ideas of being a guaranteed starter as a teenager. There were even suggestions that he would refuse to sign a new contract at Arsenal because he feared that he would not be given enough playing time. But this season, it seems as though he has a more self-aware, realistic and humble outlook on his prospects in north London.

Speaking to Arsenal.com during the international break, Nelson spoke about his start to the season, assessing his own individual performances:

"“I thought the manager would have eased me into it, but I did well against Real Madrid and in a couple of other pre-season games, so when the chance came, I took it well. Newcastle was a very tough game because they’re a very physical side and I think I did well, but I didn’t create as much as I wanted to. Against Burnley, I struggled because they are very physical, and I think I got caught on the ball a couple of times too. That’s the thing with football: you have some good games, you have some bad games but the main thing is that you go back, you recap and next week you’re ready to fight again. That’s the main thing.”"

It may seem slightly odd to praise a young player for criticising himself, but Nelson will not develop as a player if he does not have this level of self-awareness to assess his own performances. he recognise where he needs to improve, how he can develop and grow as a player, thus better pushing for a starting role in the squad, and accept that poor performances and being benched is part and parcel of being a professional footballer.

Nelson is a terrific talent and there is reason to be extremely excited about his long-term prospects. But it is his self-awareness that will be essential to his progress. Without it, he will never fulfil the mighty potential he possesses.