Arsenal are surely in for yet another busy transfer window. A couple of days ago, Willian became their most notable acquisition of the summer and a quite smart one too given the state of their offensive unit. On the flip side, however, the addition of the ex-Chelsea forward could spell trouble for existing attackers. And in this article, we will discuss how Willian’s arrival could affect Reiss Nelson’s future at Arsenal.
How Did Nelson Fare In His Return To Arsenal?
Nelson was one of the most exciting prospects at Arsenal during the start of the 2019/20 campaign. He was coming on the back of a highly successful loan spell at TSG Hoffenheim as he scored seven goals in 23 Bundesliga matches.
However, it is fair to say that Nelson has come nowhere near that tally upon his return to Emirates. He made just 17 Premier League appearances, scoring one goal.
The Englishman often struggled to compete with Nicolas Pepe at right-wing, despite the Ivorian’s own failures in quickly settling into life in the Premier League. Nelson has been quite unfortunate too as Mikel Arteta often preferred Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at left-wing while some minor fitness issues kept him out on the sidelines for a slight chunk of the campaign.
As a result, the Arsenal academy product could only muster seven starts in the league and failed to conjure up even a single assist.
Does Nelson Have Any Future At The Club?
Following a disappointing 2019/20 campaign, Nelson now finds himself in a delicate situation as Arsenal brace themselves for a potential overhaul under Arteta.
As mentioned earlier, the Gunners have already brought in Willian. The Brazilian right-winger is expected to compete with Pepe, meaning Nelson’s chances of breaking into the first-team are going to reduce even more.
Willian’s arrival is combined with the rapid rise of Bukayo Saka. The youngster, who is also a fellow academy product, has been one of the rising stars of the Premier League this past campaign. And his expertise on the wider attacking positions is sure to minimise Nelson’s game-time next season.
What Should Arteta Do Here?
There is no secret that Arsenal are keen on offloading their fringe players in an attempt to fund moves for Arteta’s transfer targets. Nelson is one such player worth selling. The English winger is still young and is likely to attract a relatively large sum.
Although the Gunners may not be able to generate as much money as they did with Alex Iwobi, it could still be a beneficial sale for the club, who are keen on reshuffling their offensive unit.
Alternatively, Arsenal could send Nelson out on loan. There is no doubt that 20-year-old is blessed with immense potential and a move away from Emirates should give him the opportunity to showcase his qualities at the highest level of football. It seems like the better option for the north London giants given the fact players like Willian and Mesut Ozil are not long-term options.
