Andrea Berta has had a flawless summer at Arsenal so far, but one decision could leave Thierry Henry unhappy.
The Gunners’ sporting director has already delivered six new signings to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Adding to the squad’s depth was necessary after the 2024/25 season was impacted so heavily by injuries, but it’s not only numbers that Berta has added to the team.
Arsenal’s starting XI has improved tremendously through the captures of Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres, but on the transfer front, it’s not all rosy in North London.
Thierry Henry saw Reiss Nelson’s potential in the Arsenal academy
It’s been clear since the window opened that Arsenal will need to sell some players this summer.
Gabriel Jesus has been linked to a move away, but the Brazil international isn’t the only one.
Losing an academy graduate is never nice, but such could be the case again this summer, as Reiss Nelson is wanted by Fulham.
Having been at Arsenal since the age of nine, the idea of Nelson moving on permanently is painful, particularly as he showed so much promise before being promoted to the first team.
In a column for The Sun back in 2017, Thierry Henry shared his thoughts on Nelson, opening up about how it was to work with the winger at Hale End.
“I worked with Reiss when I was at the Arsenal Academy, and I was so impressed with him. He has all the attributes to make it,” the Arsenal legend said.
Henry went on to admit that some members of staff thought that Nelson was ‘wasting his time’ by not playing beyond his age group, earning him an early promotion to the U23s.
Though the Frenchman was sure that the academy product had all the tools to make it at Arsenal, Henry knew that there was a chance that things wouldn’t go to plan.
“Now, having all the attributes to make it and actually making it is a massive gap. It’s like the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
“He is about to enter the real world, the pro world. Can he handle it?”
While assuring that Nelson had the desire, attitude and confidence to become a first-team regular, Henry noted that the player’s progression was ‘up to him’.
Sadly, with regard to Nelson’s progression at Arsenal, it hasn’t been entirely in the player’s hands, as, over the years, injuries have blocked the winger’s pathway to being a regular starter.
Nelson must leave Arsenal this summer
Having worked with Nelson in the academy, Henry would be sad to see the forward go, but sometimes, it’s the only option.
Nobody wanted to see the back of Emile Smith Rowe, but when game time wasn’t guaranteed and talent was being wasted, an exit was the lesser of two evils.
For Nelson, it appears that time with his boyhood club is almost up, with his potential sale set to give Arsenal pure profit to add to the bank.
For both the winger and the club, a move makes sense, but it’s merely a reminder of what could’ve been.
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