3 reasons why Reiss Nelson deserves to start against Nottingham Forest

Although it is mostly just pride at stake on this penultimate Premier League weekend, some Arsenal stars could also find themselves playing for their north London futures – perhaps none more so than the out-of-contract Reiss Nelson.  

The 23-year-old is currently in talks to extend his long Emirates stay and has often made a big difference when brought off the bench this season (Bournemouth anyone?), with these contributions said to have him “knocking on the door” for a starting berth.

Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal: why Reiss Nelson should start on Saturday

Injuries and long-term planning might cause Mikel Arteta to shuffle the pack against Nottingham Forest, and here are three reasons why Nelson deserves his place in the team.

1. He is our best left-wing option

Leandro Trossard replaced the injured Martinelli last week and, not for the first time, struggled to influence proceedings from a less-favoured wide position. Without the support of an overlapping full-back, the Belgian forward is more suited to central roles and this should see Nelson start ahead of him on Saturday.

The Hale Ender shares many of his teammate’s attributes, including technical skill and somewhat modest explosivity, but an exclusive winger background means he is better able to stretch opposition defences and wide involvement would free Trossard up to cover Gabriel Jesus down the middle.

While both players provide good solutions, Nelson is perhaps the more natural choice.

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