Arsenal parted ways with several talented academy graduates in the summer, and some are thriving elsewhere.
Emile Smith Rowe was a tough sale for Arsenal given his popularity at the club, but as an academy graduate, his sale was hugely beneficial in terms of financial fair play.
Eddie Nketiah also departed, and both players have impressed at their new clubs. Smith Rowe is firing at Fulham, and he is thriving alongside several familiar faces.
Reiss Nelson made a deadline-day loan move to Fulham to join Smith Rowe, with Raheem Sterling coming in to replace him.
However, Sterling has been criticised for his lack of impact so far, whilst Nelson is earning admirers at Craven Cottage.
Alex Iwobi praises Reiss Nelson after bright start at Fulham
Nelson is playing alongside Smith Rowe and another Hale End graduate in Alex Iwobi, who left Arsenal in 2019.
Whilst Nelson is yet to regularly start for Fulham, he has still impressed in his minutes so far, and Iwobi has now told Sky Sports about the winger’s quality.
“Reiss has been making an impact off the bench, I’m sure he’s going to get his chance soon,” Iwobi stated of Nelson.
“We see his qualities in training. He glides past people and makes things happen on the pitch.”
Iwobi also praised his link-up with Smith Rowe, which saw the pair combine for a goal against Newcastle.
“Me and Emile, we’ve been playing on the left and been linking up well,” Iwobi claimed.
Will Arsenal regret swapping Reiss Nelson for Raheem Sterling?
The nature of the two loan deals meant that Arsenal essentially swapped out Nelson for Sterling in their squad, with both players a similar profile of right-footed wingers who can play on both sides.
So far though, Nelson has had the more impressive campaign. In just 98 minutes of Premier League action from the bench, he has scored against Newcastle United, and provided an excellent assist against Manchester City.
Sterling is yet to score or assist in seven league games, with a total of 123 minutes played in two starts. Both have scored in the Carabao Cup, and both are struggling to earn a starting spot.
Arsenal’s attack without Bukayo Saka has looked blunt in recent games, and Nelson’s speed and trickery may have come in more useful, with Sterling failing to provide the same spark.
Nelson did need to play regularly, meaning a move was always on the cards, but right now he is proving to be a useful bench option even at Fulham, and further down the line Arteta may question whether the swap was worth making if Sterling cannot recover his best form.
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