Arsenal and Reiss Nelson: what’s next?

To leave permanently or to not leave permanently? That is the dilemma Reiss Nelson faces at Arsenal this summer.

The young Englishman was touted as Arsenal’s next big thing upon his 2018 contract extension. However, three years on, off the back of a season which saw the 21-year-old start just five times in all competitions, it appears Nelson’s future in north London is in jeopardy.

Granted, Nelson was plagued by niggling injury issues last season, but it is without question his progression as a footballer has plateaued. While the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock (at Newcastle) have taken their game up a level, Nelson alongside his fellow ostracised academy graduate, Eddie Nketiah, has had to watch on from afar.

Where it’s gone wrong for Nelson at Arsenal is difficult to say. Again, injuries have been problematic in this regard. Nonetheless, the signing of Willian last summer certainly hampered his hopes of gaining a starting birth in the 2020/21 campaign. Nelson was relegated from second choice on the right flank to third choice. In many a sense, he was surplus to requirements.

What is next for Reiss Nelson at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta plots selling winger in summer transfer window

The Europa League was Nelson’s saving grace during the first half of last season. Grabbing a goal and an assist in four appearances, Arsenal’s No 24 was able to remind Mikel Arteta of his obvious quality during a difficult time for the Arsenal boss. If Arteta’s performance wasn’t under such scrutiny at this point, perhaps Nelson would’ve been given further chances in the first team off the back of impressive UEL displays.

Next season, impressing in the Europa League will, obviously, be outside the realms of possibility if Nelson stays at Arsenal. If he were to stay, his opportunities would likely be confined to the early rounds of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup. Not ideal.

This would probably result in more under-23 minutes for Nelson. To think the 21-year-old started 6 times for Steve Bould’s side last season is indicative of just how poor a campaign 20/21 was for Nelson. Not only did his development level off, but his status in Mikel Arteta’s squad also regressed.

Thus to avoid a repeat of last season, Arsenal and Nelson have two options: either the winger finds a temporary new home via a loan move, or, he’s moved on permanently.

While the option is there to sell Nelson, Arsenal likely won’t be able to bring in the sort of fee they’d command for the formally highly-coveted winger. His poor season would’ve doubtlessly depreciated his value on the market and with almost every club cash-stripped this summer, few would want to gamble on an underperforming and relatively unproven talent.

The answer to this issue is a loan move. Nelson simply needs to look at his good friend Joe Willock to understand the impact a positive loan spell can have on a young player’s career. After a successful stint with Newcastle, Willock is now one of the most sought after midfielders on the Premier League market and has found renewed hope in a long-term future at Arsenal.

A loan move would also be attractive for Arsenal, especially if it were a successful one. With Nelson’s stock as low as ever, if he were to gain a move to a fellow Premier League club where he could collect valuable minutes, the damage done to his value in 2020/21 would be repaired. So, Arsenal could instead sell him next summer, hopefully in a post-COVID market, or he could return ready to fully stamp his authority over a first team spot.

Therefore, a permanent parting of ways shouldn’t be on the agenda for Arsenal and Reiss Nelson just yet. Let him go on loan, let him play and let him fall in love with football again. Then discuss what will entail beyond the foreseeable future.