Arsenal Vs Standard Liege: It’s on you, Reiss Nelson

Bukayo Saka impressed yet again in Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United. When Arsenal host Standard Liege on Thursday, it is now on Reiss Nelson to impress.

Arsenal have a budding rivalry brewing. This season was expected to be the breakthrough year for Reiss Nelson. After returning from a promising but ultimately disappointing season-long loan at Hoffenheim, it was hoped that the 19-year-old would take the next step to becoming a consistent first-team contributor.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Welcome to the big time, Bukayo Saka

And when he started the first two games of the season, there was an eager anticipation that he was beginning to step into what many had hoped of him. However, since that time, his performances have been lacking and he has since been surpassed by an even younger starlet, 18-year-old Bukayo Saka.

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Saka made his first start in the Gunners’ Europa League opening match against Eintracht Frankfurt. He scored a terrific goal, assisted another, and was one of the brightest performances in a vibrant team display, especially from an offensive standpoint. He was then rewarded for his performance with a Premier League start against Aston Villa. And then he started a week later at Old Trafford, Unai Emery not afraid to thrust a teenager into the limelight. Saka again shined.

Suddenly, Nelson had slipped down the order. He did start in a Carabao Cup match and impressed terrifically in a 5-0 victory, but at present, Saka is unquestionably ahead in the winger pecking order. Nelson must take back the first-team opportunities that he and many others expected him to enjoy throughout the season.

Saka’s progression this year should be an encouragement to Nelson. It is proof that Emery is willing to reward players on their performances, even if it comes in matches in lesser competitions. And so, as Standard Liege come to the Emirates in the Gunners’ second Europa League match on Thursday night, Nelson knows that he has the opportunity to re-establish his potential.

Nelson did not start the first Europa League match of the year. Saka did. It is likely that Emery viewed Nelson as a Premier League starter in Alexandre Lacazette’s absence against Villa. That was until Saka put in an excellent display and jumped above Nelson in Emery’s thinking. Now it seems as though the positions are reversed.

Should Nelson feature heavily on Thursday, then, he must build on a very strong performance against Forest and take his chances. First-team opportunities are not easy to come by, and when they do, players must take them, even if they are young and relatively inexperienced.

The onus is now on Nelson to perform. Saka has taken his chance. Can his budding rival? It will all unfold on Thursday night.