Talks between Reiss Nelson's representatives and Arsenal are progressing positively, football.london understands.
Nelson is into the final four weeks of his current deal in north London, meaning if fresh terms to keep him at the Emirates Stadium weren't agreed upon, he would be available on a free transfer during the summer transfer window. But football.london understands that talks regarding a new deal for the Hale End academy graduate are now in the final stages, with the club confident a deal can be finalised.
Despite limited game time, the young winger enjoyed a productive 2022/23 campaign, netting three goals and providing a further three assists in just 593 minutes of action. In fact, he produced one of the Gunners' best moments of the season during a cameo against Bournemouth back in March when he scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to complete a 3-2 comeback after his side had trailed by two goals in the second half.
That effort won the 23-year-old the Premier League’s Gamechanger of the Season award, beating out the likes of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, Tottenham Hotspur stars Son Heung-min and Rodrigo Bentancur, as well as Manchester City duo Riyad Mahrez and Erling Haaland. "I always saw the potential," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said of Nelson after the win over the Cherries.
"The talent and the desire for him to do it, but he’s at a different level right now. I think emotionally, the experiences that he had helped him.
"Football-wise, it was my decision in the last two games not to play him because we had other options. But he was knocking on the door, he’s been training really good and it’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and that he can be really important for the team."
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Nelson has played for Arsenal since he was just seven years old, coming through the club's esteemed Hale End academy before making his first-team debut during Arsene Wenger's tenure at the club back in 2017.
The talented winger enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim during the 2018/19 season, netting seven times in the German top-flight. He also spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Dutch outfit Feyenoord.
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