, loaned (Ainsley Maitland-Niles) or impressed enough to earn a new contract (Eddie Nketiah), Nelson was Arsenal's forgotten man. After an unspectacular year on loan at Feyenoord in 2021/22, he had not played a minute in the Premier League this season before Sunday. When in Germany, it was Jadon Sancho, not Nelson, shining as an Englishman abroad at Borussia Dortmund. Within half an hour on Sunday Nelson had matched Sancho's league goal and assist numbers for the season. Wikipedia is littered with players whose international experience climbs through the age groups seamlessly but expires at Under-21 level, unable to take that final step. This is Nelson's fate as it stands and before he is anointed, along with William Saliba, as an example of Arsenal's long-view loan strategy working, he will need many more matches like this. 'He is really changing, evolving' That said, the signs were promising against Forest. His dummy when fed in space ahead of his first goal was so convincing it took out two Forest defenders, both sliding in to block as Nelson calmly checked back onto his left foot to shoot. Dean Henderson saved that, but not the follow-up with his right. His finish for his second from Gabriel Jesus's pass was instinctive but delicious, guiding the ball across goal and inside the far post. The assist was a simple pas){kind=link}
Nelson had once been compared to Neymar, but had become Arsenal’s ‘forgotten man’ after loan spells in Germany and the Netherlands
When things are going well for a club, even the lowlights have an upside. The only blot on Arsenal’s near sadistic 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest was an injury to Bukayo Saka. Reiss Nelson was called on then scored twice and registered an assist.
It has been a circuitous route back to first team relevance for Nelson, whose breakthrough came five years ago and was served with a breathless comparison to Neymar from Martin Keown. He was taken under the wing of Hector Bellerin before being sent on loan to Hoffenheim, coached by now-Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann.
Part of the once-promising youth cohort which has been either sold (Joe Willock), loaned (Ainsley Maitland-Niles) or impressed enough to earn a new contract (Eddie Nketiah), Nelson was Arsenal’s forgotten man. After an unspectacular year on loan at Feyenoord in 2021/22, he had not played a minute in the Premier League this season before Sunday. When in Germany, it was Jadon Sancho, not Nelson, shining as an Englishman abroad at Borussia Dortmund. Within half an hour on Sunday Nelson had matched Sancho’s league goal and assist numbers for the season.
Wikipedia is littered with players whose international experience climbs through the age groups seamlessly but expires at Under-21 level, unable to take that final step. This is Nelson’s fate as it stands and before he is anointed, along with William Saliba, as an example of Arsenal’s long-view loan strategy working, he will need many more matches like this.