As a teenager, Arsenal star Reiss Nelson was one of the most highly-rated prospects at the Emirates Stadium, but he has yet to live up to the hype.
Nelson was moved into the senior team back in 2019 after impressing for the Gunners under-21 side and enjoyed good loan spells with Hoffenheim and Feyenoord over the past few years. The 22-year-old suffered a muscle injury at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which has limited his game time this season.
Nelson replaced Bukayo Saka during the 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon after the Arsenal star sustained an ankle injury that has left Mikel Arteta and Gareth Southgate sweating over his fitness ahead of the World Cup in a few weeks. Nelson came off the bench to score two goals and provide an assist for Thomas Partey's brilliant long-range effort.
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Gunners legend Thierry Henry, Arsenal's record goalscorer, wrote in his column for The Sun newspaper, via The Express, back in 2017 that Nelson has "all the attributes" to carve a successful career at the Emirates Stadium. After impressing Arteta during the emphatic 5-0 win against Forest, the 22-year-old could now prove Henry's glowing assessment right.
"This kid has all the talent to be knocking on the door of the first team. After two substitute appearances — in the Community Shield and Europa League — he made his first start in the Carabao Cup," the former Arsenal striker wrote.
"It was a shame not to see him start in his best position. He is a No. 10 or a winger, and he played as a wing-back. But as a kid, at a club like Arsenal, you take every chance you get.
"Now, having all the attributes to make it and actually making it is a massive gap. It's like the distance from the earth to the moon. He is about to enter the real world, the pro world. Can he handle it? Well, he has desire, confidence and a great attitude. He will run at you and be brave on the ball.
"People talk about being brave in football, like going in for a 50-50 tackle, but bravery can also be about decision-making when in possession. Reiss is brave because he takes risks, he takes on the opposition.
"I watched his games in the Emirates Cup in pre-season, and he came on against Cologne in the Europa League. And there were flashes from him that he is comfortable around the first team."
Nelson looks set to be Arsenal's short-term replacement for Saka in the first team as the Gunners wait to hear the full extent of the England international's injury. Henry continued: "He is quick — and not just across the ground.
"He is quick in the mind, he understands the game. But he is also quick with the ball and has fast feet.
"He is direct, there is no inefficiency, no messing around for the sake of it. It is great that he is coming through the Arsenal system and getting near to the first team."
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