Reiss Nelson left Arsenal to join fellow Premier League side Fulham on loan during the recent summer transfer window.
Reiss Nelson was not the only player to depart the Emirates Stadium for the West London club. The winger’s fellow Hale End academy graduate, Emile Smith Rowe, also made the switch to Craven Cottage. However, the midfielder signed for Fulham on a permanent basis.
The Gunners granted Nelson an exit on a temporary basis, recognising the 24-year-old’s need for regular football.
However, the attacker has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for Fulham so far, with seven of his ten Premier League appearances to date this season having come from the bench.
Reiss Nelson unhappy at Fulham
Nelson has started Fulham’s last three Premier League games. However, Football Transfers still recently reported that he is unsettled at Craven Cottage, and eager for another move.
The winger will push to leave Arsenal on a permanent basis in the coming summer, and favours a move to the Bundesliga, having been frustrated in his stint at Fulham.
If he continues to start games on a regular basis, then it is likely that Nelson’s mood will swiftly improve. However, should he revert to being used as a substitute, then Arsenal may consider recalling him to the Emirates Stadium in January – if the option for them to do so was included in his initial loan agreement.
In any case, so far at least, this move has not worked out perfectly.
Mikel Arteta made a mistake in letting Reiss Nelson leave Arsenal on loan
Mikel Arteta may now regret the decision to allow Nelson to leave on loan. Had they been able to find a buyer for the forward, then the funds raised from his sale could at least have been used to sign some reliable cover for Bukayo Saka.
As it happened, the Gunners brought in Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day. The deal to sign Sterling favoured Arsenal financially, but the 29-year-old has failed to deliver on the pitch for the Gunners.
Sterling has been called the worst signing of the summer. Had Nelson remained in North London, he would surely have been able to have a greater impact than the Chelsea loanee has managed.
Therefore, had Nelson been kept or sold, Arsenal and the player would both be better off now than either of them are following his loan switch to Fulham.
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