Arsenal Weigh Up Emi Buendia Player-Plus-Cash Deal

Reiss Nelson

If Arsenal want to haggle the price down and include one of the two mentioned, the resulting decision becomes a tough one.

At what point does realism set in, and how long can idealism last? Supporters would ideally see an entire XI of Hale End graduates playing week in, week out. Who wouldn’t?

The amount of talent who work their way up from youth level and don’t make the grade in the Premier League is often overlooked in favour of the select few who do have the ability.

Nelson has been tapping on the door of the first team intermittently since he broke through. This season in the Europa League, those taps turned to knocks. Never before has he looked as ready as he is to earn minutes in the league.

Injuries have stifled that progress, and with Arteta having found a winning formula, even a return from niggling issues can’t see him make a matchday squad. The manager said he hasn’t been 100% ready, but this comes across more as protection rather than fitness.

However, wherever Nelson goes he will be a star. Of this there is little doubt. Give him a regular run in a side and he will produce. No offence to Norwich, but he is a Premier League player. If Alex Iwobi can play regularly for Everton, so too can Nelson.

Joe Willock

How much more patience will people have with Willock? He’s made 76 senior appearances for Arsenal, more than any other member of the squad to have worked their way up from the academy. Despite those outings, he still hasn’t managed to fully kick on.

Again, he hasn’t been given a regular run of games – from the start or in his favoured position – to make his mark. When he was granted that chance, he was superb in the Europa League.

As the right-sided member of a midfield three is where he is best suited, a role he is yet to play for Arsenal in the Premier League.

It does appear unlikely he’ll get his chance this season, though. Still only 21 years old, he has room to grow and would benefit immensely from a solid spell of games. How important could an extra midfielder be for Arsenal for the second half of the season will depend on injuries and transfer movement, but a loan departure would certainly help his cause.

Is it too soon to give up on Willock and admit he isn’t going to make the grade, or is that unjust given he’s played almost exclusively as a late substitute for so many of his outings for the club?

The fact that Willock has been listed as a dispensable asset hints strongly towards the latter. For me, he needs a loan elsewhere before that decision is made. Let him play 20+ games regularly and then see where he is. Sadly, Norwich might only knock off a few quid if they get Willock on a six-month loan, not a few million.