Luck has not been on Reiss Nelson’s side throughout his Arsenal career so far.
In many ways his substitute appearance against Leeds United was yet more proof of this.
The 20-year-old was linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer, but took the bold decision to stay and fight for his place in Mikel Arteta ’s team. Up until Sunday he had received just two starts to prove that he was worthy.
But when Willian was withdrawn at half time through a muscle injury Arteta handed Nelson his first opportunity to really stake a claim for the first team. Six minutes later though, it was more or less over before it had begun.
Nicolas Pepe ’s red card meant that Nelson’s role within the team was drastically transformed, and the youngster was forced to focus more on the defensive side of his game than the attacking flair for which he had been introduced.
This latest bout of misfortune is symptomatic of a career path that has been defined by false starts and fine margins.
After a decent loan spell at Hoffenheim he was brought back to the Emirates and expected to be a key part of Unai Emery ’s first team plans for the 2019/20 season. He started the first game against Newcastle and played from the off against Burnley. With new signing Nicolas Pepe ready and waiting on the bench the pressure was on the Hale End graduate to deliver. With the game finally poised at 1-1 moments from half time it appeared that he done so by rifling a slick move into the roof of the net to send the Emirates into delirium. Sadly, it was not to be.
VAR ruled the goal out for offside and Nelson was hooked at half time. He would not start again in the Premier League until December.
By then Mikel Arteta had arrived at the club and it seemed that the Spaniard had taken a liking to the winger. He was heavily involved across a packed festive period and capped his return to the first team with a match winning goal against Leeds in the FA Cup third round. Then injury struck just as it seemed Nelson was finally making his way back into the first team fold. Ten days after his return the entire footballing world was brought to a halt by COVID-19.
It’s fair to say that Nelson hasn’t had the rub of the green that every professional footballer needs when breaking into the first team.
Of course, his failure to nail down a spot is not purely based on luck alone. There are elements to his game that could do with some improvement. His set piece delivery for example, was desperately poor against Leeds and visibly frustrated the usually unflappable Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
If he is allowed the chance Nelson can bring something to the team that none of his counterparts offer. While Nicolas Pepe looks to cut inside onto his left foot and Willian tends to drift infield to be more involved in the play, the 20-year-old is an old school winger who likes to have chalk on his boots. This is something we know Mikel Arteta values from his early time working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and his role in improving Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
Nelson does have the potential to reach that level if he wants to. It’s worth remembering that during the early days of his loan spell at Hoffenheim he was being spoken about in the same breath as Jadon Sancho.
Since then, the Dortmund winger has, through regular game time, been able to establish himself as one of the brightest talents in world football. Nelson, on the other hand has not. But, with Pepe’s three game suspension and Willian’s injury, things now finally seem to be falling into place for the golden boy of Hale End. It’s up to him to make sure the opportunity doesn’t slip through his fingers again.
