Arsenal: Should we be worried about Reiss Nelson?

Reiss Nelson has seemingly slipped below Bukayo Saka in the pecking order at Arsenal. Should there be concerning regarding his development?

When Reiss Nelson broke onto the scene in the summer of 2017, flourishing in several pre-season matches during the tour of Australia, there was an immediate sense of anticipation for his future. From his very first appearance, Arsenal fans were expectant of what he would become.

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Since that time, however, the now 19-year-old has not pressed home his potential. The talent still presides within him, somewhere. There is no doubt of that. Even in a disappointing start to the current season, there have still been brief glimpses of his scintillating, eye-bulging skill. But the initial buzz around his bursting onto the scene has dimmed a little.

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Nelson spent last season on loan at Hoffenheim. He exploded in the opening period of the season, scoring six goals and adding one assist in his first 325 minutes of Bundesliga action. He then suffered some injuries, made a few other substitute appearances, but ultimately fell out of contention under Julian Naglsmen. From the turn of the year, he made only 10 appearances, all of from off the bench. He scored just once.

Upon his return to the Emirates this season, there was new hope that Nelson could finally establish himself as a key piece in Unai Emery’s first-team rotation. When Alex Iwobi was then sold on transfer deadline day and Henrikh Mkhitaryan was allowed to leave on a season-long loan, there was an even greater expectation that this would be the year that Nelson finally got a chance to nail down a starting gig.

He started the first two matches of the season. He has been named in every matchday squad so far and was brought on against Watford two weeks ago. He has already played only 10 fewer Premier League minutes than what he did in the 2017/18 season, his first in the senior set-up. Nelson has made a step forward.

But then something curious happened. The man apparently behind him in the assembly line of sharp, direct, pacy wingers overtook him. In the Europa League, a competition that is ostensibly made for someone like Nelson who is not quite ready for consistent Premier League starts but is chomping at the bit for first-team opportunities, Bukayo Saka usurped his fellow academy graduate. And this was not to rest Nelson. Saka then started ahead of him once again in Sunday’s victory over Aston Villa. Is it time to worry about Nelson and his development?

Emery is obviously judging these players on their performances in training. At present, he clearly views Saka as a better player than Nelson, both in his short-term impact for the team and his long-term prospects. Like Nelson, Saka is a very talented player with a bright future, but he should not have overtaken a player one-and-a-half years his elder who boasts substantially more senior experience in a matter of weeks.

There is still a long way to go in this season. Nelson will get his opportunities, I hope. He may even start on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest. But as he strives to deliver on that exhilirating talent that he displayed on those Australian nights, the early signs are not encouraging.