Rarely-used player now sends defiant message to Mikel Arteta over Arsenal future

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Arsenal star Reiss Nelson was handed a rare start in Sunday’s FA Cup defeat to Liverpool, but looked bright.

The winger replaced Gabriel Martinelli, who has been in particularly poor form of late, and looked threatening on the left wing, creating several chances, but missed a good opportunity in the first few minutes after an excellent pass from Aaron Ramsdale.

There have been plenty of calls for Nelson to play more this season. Both Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are out of form, having regularly started, whilst Leandro Trossard has also been disappointing as the first-choice backup winger.

Nelson signed a new contract to keep him at the club after nearly departing, and he has now spoken out about his future at Arsenal after making what was just his fourth start of the season.

Reiss Nelson sends Mikel Arteta message over Arsenal future

Speaking after the Liverpool defeat, Nelson claimed that he wants to stay at Arsenal and fight to become a starter, rather than settling for bench minutes.

“I have said this before, but Arsenal is my club since I was eight years old. Of course, I want to be playing much more than I am right now,” he stated.

“It’s good to be coming off the bench, but I want to be starting. I feel like I am proving myself every day in training, so with this momentum I want to go on and keep playing more.

“I signed my contract, I am here now and I have just got to prove to the boss that I deserve more minutes.

“Like I said, when I get chances to play I can prove myself and show everyone what I can do.”

Has Mikel Arteta treated Reiss Nelson unfairly?

Nelson was of interest to several clubs before signing his contract extension, and this indicates that he may have been given assurances over his potential for significant minutes before extending his deal.

However, he has hardly had a look in despite Arsenal’s struggles in attack. There is a lack of pace when Martinelli is not on the pitch, as substituting Trossard on has often killed the attacking momentum within games.

With both starting wingers in poor form, and Nelson performing well in cup competitions when given a chance, it has been baffling that he has not been given more of a chance by Mikel Arteta.

Saka was particularly poor against Liverpool, and Trossard has failed to deliver on several occasions this season, but Nelson still struggles for minutes.

Nelson simply has to be given more opportunities, starting with the next game against Crystal Palace. Saka would benefit from extra rest and time out of the starting XI, and Nelson’s ability to play on both wings could make him an internal solution to Arsenal’s attacking problems.