Arsenal manager Unai Emery has today discussed the progress being made by Gunners’ starlet Reiss Nelson in the Bundesliga, as well as the possibility of the attacker returning to North London in January.
Nelson joins Hoffenheim
18-year-old winger/forward Nelson came up through Arsenal’s youth academy, before breaking into the club’s first-team setup last season.
However, with the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Welbeck to contend with for a place in the Gunners’ starting XI, it was decided this summer that Nelson’s progress would be greater aided by a loan stint away from the club.
As such, the England U21-international joined German outfit Hoffenheim on a season-long loan in August.
Nelson on fire
And Nelson has since gone on to enjoy an absolutely scintillating start to life in the Bundesliga.
Despite having made just 6 appearances in the German top-flight, the Arsenal loanee has racked up a remarkable 5 goals and 1 assist for Die Kraichgauer to this point.
His goal-haul includes this stunning strike at the weekend, during Hoffenheim’s 4-1 drubbing of Bayer Leverkusen:
Reiss Nelson, stop that 😳😱
Unbelievable finish!
He’s loving life in Germany 🙌 pic.twitter.com/KBcSpHqGZ6
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 3, 2018
Reiss Nelson’s first six shots on target in the Bundesliga:
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️👐⚽️
Another goal for the Arsenal loanee. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QdkM4KntnI
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 3, 2018
Youngest-ever players to score five goals in the Bundesliga:
18y, 10m, 14d • 🇩🇪 Lukas Podolski
18y, 10m, 15d • 🇩🇪 Olaf Thon
18y, 10m, 25d • 🏴 Reiss NelsonMaking the most of an extraordinary opportunity. pic.twitter.com/UL1pT44W7X
— Scouted Football (@ScoutedFtbl) November 3, 2018
‘We don’t speak about that’
And Arsenal boss Unai Emery this afternoon discussed Nelson’s form, confirming that the club are keeping a close on eye on the youngster’s development, with a view to his integration into the Gunners’ setup in the near future:
‘He can take responsibility, minutes and confidence in a team where he can play more.’
‘Then the objective with him is to come back with us and grow with this experience. My experience in Spain and France is that with this loan the player can achieve this.’
‘With Reiss, we are very happy with him at the moment. We follow him every match. We are thinking about how he can help us in the future.’
Emery was also questioned on the possibility that Nelson could cut his loan with Hoffenheim short to make an early return to Arsenal in January, to which the Spaniard responded:
‘At the moment we don’t speak about that.’
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