Arsenal chose to loan Reiss Nelson out to Feyenoord last week – and that means he will be working under the tutelage of Robin van Persie.
The Gunners wanted to get Nelson out playing first-team football after something of a lost campaign last season.
Feyenoord wanted another attacking player, and had moved for Manchester United teenager Amad Diallo.
That deal fell through due to injury, and Feyenoord turned to Nelson. Before the transfer deadline, Nelson headed to Rotterdam for the season.
This is an interesting move for the 21-year-old, who may need to shine in order to convince Arsenal to keep him in their plans.
By heading to De Kuip, Nelson now has the chance to work under a former Arsenal star in Van Persie.
Van Persie is an attacking coach at Feyenoord, combining that role with his duties coaching their Under-16’s.
A Feyenoord legend, Van Persie may actually be better remembered for his time at Arsenal.
Signed from Feyenoord in 2004, Van Persie smashed 132 goals in 278 games across eight seasons in North London.
Did his reputation take a hit after signing for Manchester United in 2012? Yeah, very much so. Yet now there is a real chance for Arsenal to have something of a new Van Persie.
Nelson will find himself working with Van Persie on a regular basis, taking in knowledge and pointers from the Dutch goal machine.
What you can always remember about Van Persie is his technique and how cleanly he struck the ball from various angles.
Nelson can now learn that from Van Persie and bring it back to Arsenal for next season, hopefully giving Mikel Arteta a new goal threat from wide areas.
Edu made the call to send Nelson away to the Netherlands, and if he gets even close to Van Persie’s level down the line, will look back at this loan spell as a masterstroke.
If Nelson comes back a new player next summer, Arsenal may also need to give praise to Van Persie, almost a decade since his controversial exit.
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