Mikel Arteta has confirmed Reiss Nelson will be given a chance to prove he can go “to the next level” at Arsenal.
Nelson, now 23, is into the final year of his Gunners contract and aside from a spell in 2019/20, he has failed to ever have a run in the first-team. He spent last season out on loan with Feyenoord, where he played more than 30 times, registering four goals.
He then returned to his parent club, but missed the majority of pre-season and the start to the new campaign with an injury. But now back to full fitness, Arteta has revealed he will be keeping a close eye on the academy graduate, whom he specifically wanted to return to the club.
“After the spell he had last season, we wanted him back to see if there’s any changes,” he explained in his press conference ahead of the game with Bodo/Glimt. “He’s a prospect we want to take to the next level.
“I think the potential is there, we always hang in there because we see something in Reiss that is special. Obviously he’s part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity.”
Nelson is in line to make his first appearance of the season against the Norwegians on Thursday night and Arteta has urged the versatile forward to grasp his chance with both hands. The Arsenal boss added: “He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, but now he’s fit and ready to play - he just needs minutes now.
“That’s what he needs to do, he needs to show it on the pitch. His attitude, the way he’s matured and evolved in the last year or so has been really impressive, I think everyone [around the club] has been talking about it. Now he needs to do it on the pitch.”
However, his inclusion isn’t a sign of the Gunners taking their foot off the petal and using the Europa League as recovery time from the Premier League. Instead, Arteta is going all out to lift the club’s first European trophy since 1994.
"It's a competition that is really important for us, we know how important it is to be on top of that group, we have top competition and the home advantage. We have to use it and that’s why tomorrow is so important.”
Meanwhile, Arteta has confirmed that contracts for some of the club’s brightest talents are being worked on, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba in line for new deals. Fans understandably have a little trepidation given Arsenal’s previous for allowing contracts to run down, but Arteta insists Sporting Director Edu has it all in hand.
“We have to plan for the future and we are all working on it. Edu is on top of it and all the board. I will try to do things in the right way and plan in the best possible way and reward the players - that in our opinion - have a big future at the club. When we have something to announce we will do that.”
He added: "What happened in the past, the people that were in charge had the right reasons, or tried something that would benefit the club. We will try to do the same and make sure the club is protected and in the right place to keep moving forward.”