Arsenal: Reiss Nelson has a knack for saying the right things

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson has not lived up to the hype, but against all odds, he keeps inspiring belief just by what he says.

Reiss Nelson was supposed to be running Arsenal by now. He had a huge opportunity at the start of the season, but he proved wasteful and physically weak. He was quickly pushed to the side, not to mention injured.

Now, he’s at the good graces of Mikel Arteta. But according to Nelson, he is completely confident that Arteta can make him a top tier player. This was all revealed in a fantastic feature about Nelson in the Guardian, in which Nelson speaks about his close friendship with Jadon Sancho and how comparable they were as boys.

I have never found a lot of inspiration in what players say. Never. Most just say what they are scripted to say. They speak on the pitch, with their play. That’s how I judge a player.

But for Reiss Nelson, that isn’t the case. For Nelson, his lack of speaking on the pitch have so often been overshadowed by what he says off the pitch.

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I hate to sound so cruel, but if Nelson wasn’t so good at saying exactly what I need to hear to keep the faith, I’d have lost faith awhile ago. But just when it dwindles, he comes out and says something that rejuvenates my faith in his return.

First, it was during his loan at Hoffenheim. He fell out of favor really quickly after such a thrilling start. He fell into disciplinary issues. It didn’t look good. But he spoke about how he was maturing, and growing, and learning. And how all these experiences were going to help him return as a better man to Arsenal.

His eyes were always on Arsenal.

Now, he is out of favor, he’s buried and injured. Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are on the rise and younger. So many players would be looking for a way out. But not Nelson. Nelson has spoken about how Arteta is going to help him and inevitably put it in our minds that he can be like Jadon Sancho.

Just like that, I believe again. All because of what Reiss Nelson has said.

This is a young man committed to the game, committed to the team, and confident in his position, despite it not seeming so advantageous. That is the kind of guy you want on your club.