Reiss Nelson was handed a rare Premier League start by Mikel Arteta in Arsenal's 4-0 win over Norwich City, highlighting how willing the Spanish boss is to give youngsters a chance to flourish.
Nelson’s performance would have pleased Arteta, who made the bold decision to start the 20-year-old over Nicolas Pepe on the right wing. One positive for the youngster, or whoever plays on the right, is the fact that Arsenal’s left looks increasingly dangerous with Kieran Tierney providing added threat alongside Aubameyang against Daniel Farke’s side.
Aubameyang’s brace somewhat proves how dangerous he is on the left which put much of Norwich’s defensive energy down Arsenal’s left rather than on Nelson and Hector Bellerin on the right.
That type of freedom allowed the 20-year-old room to manoeuvre several chances in the final third. A fast-paced combination with Bellerin created a number of issues for Jamal Lewis at left-back who was frequently caught in two minds on whether to mark Nelson or stop the supply from the Spanish right-back.
With Bellerin operating as a wing-back down the right, Arteta may have shown signs of how he intends on developing this group of players into a well-balanced side. Under Unai Emery, Arsenal had often been criticised for a lack of cohesion between defence and attack but the combination of Nelson and Bellerin down the right showcased a positive change.
Bellerin’s added width allowed Nelson the luxury to work further inside and influence proceedings in more threatening areas whilst in possession. As a player who benefits from more attacking responsibilities, a partnership with Bellerin could prove to be one that brings the best out of both players.
Nelson may not have contributed with a goal or assist, but there were certainly positive signs that he could become a more permanent fixture if Arteta deploys a wing-back system more often.
One thing that the Arsenal head coach will be keen on ensuring is that he begins to build relationships across the pitch and Nelson’s performance showed why he was deserving of a start in the Premier League.
