Reiss Nelson insists he’s Arsenal through and through, and he just wants to go back and play for his club next season.

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal and Dusan Tadic of Southampton battle for possession during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal and Dusan Tadic of Southampton battle for possession during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on April 8, 2018, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

After winning the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award with 12 goal contributions in 11 u23 games in 2017/18, Nelson signed a new contract with Arsenal last summer and went on loan for his first full senior season with Hoffenheim.

Between his appearances for the German side and his games for the England u21s, Nelson scored 10 goals and assisted two in 2018/19, one every 95 minutes.

Though he didn’t play as often as he would’ve liked, the winger is having an impact when he gets a chance. Now he just wants that same opportunity to play for the Arsenal first team.

“It was difficult, leaving, but Arsenal are my team and I want to go back to Arsenal and play,” Nelson told the Telegraph. “I am Arsenal through and through. I support Arsenal. All my family support Arsenal. That’s an interaction I have with the fans.

“It’s a good thing. They support a lot of the young talent coming up through Arsenal. It’s good.”

Reiss Nelson (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Reiss Nelson (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Nelson previously had some chances in the first team under Arsene Wenger, though he wasn’t really playing in his preferred position for the most part.

The 19-year-old thinks his loan has better prepared him to make an impact this season, emphasising his more mature approach to matches.

“I have got a bit bigger,” Nelson continued. “I was playing at Arsenal when I was 17, when he [Wenger] gave me my [first league start] debut against Southampton [April last year], so I was very immature when I was playing.

“Now I have a more mature role about me. I look to play link-up play, one v ones, and I think I am more mature.”

As someone who has watched Nelson a lot for the Arsenal u18s, the u23s, the first team and with Hoffenheim and England, I can safely say he’s not perfect quite yet. He could do more to double up with his full-back defensively, and he can be dispossessed a little too often.

Those traits come with the territory of being exactly the kind of player Arsenal fans want in the team though. He’s direct, he takes players on individually or by playing off teammates, he goes for goal when possible and finishes chances well.

Nelson’s limited minutes with Hoffenheim may have held him to just seven goals, but that’s still more than anyone in the Arsenal squad not named Aubameyang or Lacazette managed.

Arsenal are desperate for wingers and they have at least two or three in the academy who could be making an impact. Nelson is best positioned to do so immediately, he just needs an opportunity.