Arsenal are struggling to make progress with a new contract for Reiss Nelson as the attacker continues to be sidelined with injury. The 23-year-old missed the action against Brentford on Saturday having not played since November.
He came off the bench for a first appearance of the campaign against Nottingham Forest earlier in the year, scoring twice and assisting one, but has remained out since then. With his current deal expiring at the end of the season it hasn't been the ideal way to prove his quality.
Nelson, who has come through the Hale End academy as one of the most exciting graduates, has failed to live up his early promise so far and has found his pathway congested. Not only has Bukayo Saka, with contract issues of his own, become one of the outstanding wingers in the league, Gabriel Martinelli has progressed significantly this season too.
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Leandro Trossard was signed in January as a senior option in attack as well, whilst Emile Smith Rowe is also on the mend from injury. Even Gabriel Jesus, another long-term absentee, can play across the frontline rather than just as an orthodox winger. Nelson, football.london was told, would still like to stay at the club though.
It hasn't come with any tangible movement though. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says that things are far from certain. He said: "Reiss Nelson future, still not decided as talks over new deal with Arsenal are not advanced at this stage - his contract expires in June with many clubs interested.
"Understand Nelson would be happy to stay but there are no concrete negotiations yet - up to Arsenal."
Arteta himself has addressed the nervous wait for Saka to commit himself, with the manager saying: "In the same way we dealt with Gabi [Martinelli], we’ll deal with the rest.
Things need time sometimes but we are delighted with the news of Gabi obviously." It may well be that Nelson is the next on the list, but as time goes on more questions are sure to be asked.
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