Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta comments on Reiss Nelson future

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has suggested to the club’s official website that Reiss Nelson could leave on loan.

Arteta has said that the future of players who are not getting much playing time, such as Nelson, will be decided in the coming days.

The Spaniard has added that conversations are going on, having said earlier in the season that the winger himself did not want to go out on loan in the summer of 2020.

Arteta told Football.London about Nelson in November 2020: “He’s another player who wants to take on all the time. He’s very vertical. He’s a great player who runs in behind. He’s very unpredictable.

“I really like these types of players to play in winger positions. Defensively there are things he needs to do better but he will improve that but he’s a much more mature player.

“He showed a great attitude to say he didn’t want to leave on loan because he believes he’s got a chance to play for this football club and he’s showing that he wants to take that direction. He’s performing in the right way.”

The Spaniard has now told Arsenal’s official website when asked if Nelson will leave on loan in January: “That’s a conversation that we are having with the players that are not having a lot of time. Obviously we want to keep their development going and we will make decision in the next three days with some of them on what the best thing is to do.

“We try to be clear and transparent with what the plans are and their roles in the team and after that, we decide on the best thing for the players and the club.”

Leaving Arsenal on loan

It was really great and ambitious of Nelson to stay at Arsenal for the first half of the season, but it is clear that it has been a struggle for him.

True, the 21-year-old has done well on occasions, but the winger is not guaranteed a place even in the matchday squad.

According to WhoScored, the youngster has played just 70 minutes in the Premier League, and has scored one goal and provided one assist in four Europa League games for Arsenal so far this season.

It would make sense for Nelson to find another club to play for on loan for the rest of the season and then come back to Arsenal to fight for a place in the team in 2021-22.