Reiss Nelson is very much a forgotten man at Arsenal.
And it’s easy to see why when you consider the fact that the 21-year-old winger has only played 56 minutes of senior football since December.
Nelson hasn’t made a first-team appearance for Arsenal since the FA Cup win over Newcastle United in January.
He was an unused substitute during a few Premier League games in April but never made it off the bench.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had no room for him at all in Sunday’s win away to Newcastle United, despite the fact Nelson was photographed in training throughout the week.
Speaking after the game, Arteta revealed that Nelson was doing everything in his power to get more game time – including doing extra work at the training ground – and the Spaniard admitted that he feels sorry for the fact he is unable to squeeze him in.
He told Football London: “I would like to give him more. He’s a boy who tries really hard, he trains every day. It’s very difficult at the moment with the players we have to be able to fit in. I feel sorry because he deserves more. He doesn’t play more and that’s my fault.”
It’s quite a heartbreaking revelation from Arteta.
Nelson clearly has his heart set on earning some minutes between now and the end of the season and it is easy to feel quite sorry for him.
That being said, there’s every chance that he’ll play over the coming weeks.
Arsenal’s season is now all about the Europa League and win, lose or draw on Thursday against Villarreal, their Premier League campaign is of little consequence at this point.
If they get knocked out of Thursday’s semi at the Emirates, Arteta might just use the last four domestic games to blood youngsters and reward others – like, say, Nelson.
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