 It was that talent which saw Nelson introduced to the Arsenal first-team squad by Arsene Wenger aged just 17. But Nelson has since seen teammates kick-on whilst he has struggled to put it all together. Saka, who he replaced, is nearly two years younger but has become a star whilst Emile Smith Rowe has become a first-team regular. Nonetheless, the sentiment that Nelson was Arsenal's 'special one' was always shared amongst his teammates. Speaking on){kind=link}
Reiss Nelson was earmarked as Arsenal’s next top talent as a kid and is generating a fresh wave of excitement after his double against Nottingham Forest
When Reiss Nelson replaced the injured Bukayo Saka early on Sunday afternoon, it’s fair to say few would have envisioned two goals and an assist.
Nelson’s breakthrough Premier League performance caught many off guard – but would have come as no great surprise to those who worked with him as a youngster. After all, it has been almost a decade since he was earmarked as Arsenal ‘s “special one”.
That is according to former Arsenal academy chief Andries Jonker, who explained to the Mirror back in 2020 that Nelson was predicted for the very top from the moment he saw him aged just 14. Even at then, he stood out.
“Reiss, his talent was not questioned at all,” Jonker said. “Everybody could see his talent, and by everybody I mean absolutely everybody.