Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson provided an assist for Feyenoord as the Europa Conference League semi-finals got underway on Thursday.

Feyenoord's forward Reiss Nelson attends the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final second leg football match between Feyenoord and Olympique de Marseille (OM) Feyenoord stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam,on April 28, 2022. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)
Feyenoord’s forward Reiss Nelson attends the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final second leg football match between Feyenoord and Olympique de Marseille (OM) Feyenoord stadium de Kuip in Rotterdam,on April 28, 2022. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal have loan players at three of the four Europa Conference League semi-finalists, with Reiss Nelson and Feyenoord facing off against William Saliba, Matteo Guendouzi and Marseille, whilst Ainsley Maitland-Niles and AS Roma play Leicester City.

The first leg of both ties took place on Thursday, with three of the four players getting starts. Maitland-Niles was the one exception, not featuring at all in Roma’s 1-1 away draw.

The other game was filled with plenty of excitement, a five-goal thriller that sets up an enticing second leg.

Feyenoord initially raced into a 2-0 lead, with Nelson providing the assist for their second goal. Nelson beat the offside trap to get in behind on the right-hand side, and as Saliba got back to cover, Nelson cut a pass back to Luis Sinisterra to score.

You can watch Nelson’s assist here from 0:46.

Just as it started to look like a historical night for the Dutch side, Marseille bounced back and completed a two-goal comeback before the end of the first half.

Going into the second period at 2-2, Feyenoord retook the lead within 10 seconds of the restart, Cyriel Dessers pouncing on a mistake. Nelson subsequently came off in the 65th minute.

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French defender Jonathan Clauss (L) and French defender William Saliba (R) pose prior to a match on March 29, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

We know at least one Arsenal loanee will be in the Europa Conference League final this year, whether it’s Nelson or the Saliba-Guendouzi combo.

With Leicester City now having to travel away to Roma and win, it’s very possible Maitland-Niles will be in the opposition squad for that final. Though after just five minutes of action in seven games this month, it’s unlikely Maitland-Niles will start.