Reiss Nelson grabbed everyone’s attention this past weekend with his 97th-minute goal against Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium. Nelson has already amassed a remarkable stat line in only his third league game this season, with three goals and two assists in just 85 minutes of action. Now, talks have shifted to how this will affect his contract renewal and his future with Arsenal.

After making his debut for Arsene Wenger in 2018, Nelson, a graduate of the club’s renowned Hale End programme, has had difficulty staying healthy and getting regular playing time. He was supposed to leave last summer after successful European loan stints with Feyenoord under Arne Slot and Hoffenheim under Julian Nagelsmann. Unfortunately, he once again suffered an injury setback.

Despite missing so many football matches since his debut, Nelson proved his worth when he scored the game-winning goal in the 97th minute of the Premier League match against Bournemouth. Is that enough to warrant a contract renewal with the Gunners? Here, we’ll discuss if a contract renewal with Nelson is an ideal decision for Arsenal or if looking for a replacement is better.

Arsenal’s unsung hero wants to stay at the Emirates

Following Nelson’s 97th-minute goal, Arsenal’s bench and coaching staff jubilantly ran onto the pitch. According to Football.london, this caused referee Chris Kavanagh to file a complaint about the postgame celebrations with the FA. Though it’s unclear if Arsenal’s in trouble with the FA, one thing is sure – Reiss Nelson was the star of the show. His win seemed to come at the right time, a few months before the end of his five-year contract.

There’s no definitive stance on whether or not Nelson will remain at the club, but the professional winger has expressed his desire to stay with Arsenal. Nelson responded to a question regarding his future in December by saying he’d been with the club a long time and is Arsenal through and through. Therefore, he was glad just to be able to play. He noted that injuries are frustrating, but he was focused on the future and is optimistic that he will still be able to play for this club for a long time.

Reiss has been with the Gunners since he was eight. On December 10, 2016, he signed his first professional contract after stellar performances for Arsenal’s youth teams. The 2017-18 PL2 champion Arsenal U23 team included Reiss, who had an outstanding season, scoring 9 goals and assisting on 3 more in 11 games.

Nelson played 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 5-0 EFL Cup win over Nottingham Forest on September 24, 2019. In the 84th minute, he added a fourth for Arsenal, scoring his first goal for the team. On January 6, 2020, Nelson grabbed his second goal of the year in Arsenal’s 1-0 FA Cup victory over Leeds United. He made his Premier League debut as a substitute for Bukayo Saka in a match against Nottingham Forest on October 30, 2022. He immediately made an impact with two goals and an assist.

The reasons why Arsenal should extend his contract

Nelson’s performance has led fans to believe that Arsenal could win the EPL. As a result, those who also bet on football events have backed these odds at trustworthy BookiesNotOnGamStop. Besides the fact that fans and bettors believe in his skills, here are some reasons why Nelson deserves a contract renewal with Arsenal:

  • Commitment to his team: Nelson has built an excellent relationship with his teammates thanks to the years the young footballer has spent at the club. This solid and committed relationship has contributed massively to the team’s performance on the field. Besides being committed to the team, Nelson has a special place in Arteta’s books. The Spaniard has previously stated that Nelson can earn himself a new contract before the season’s conclusion. He voiced his satisfaction at the 23-year-old’s moment of glory against Bournemouth.
  • Continuous improvement: Nelson’s injuries might have caused him to miss multiple games, but whenever he comes back to the field, he is better than before. A good instance was the thigh injury he sustained in the first half of the match against Juventus in December 2022. Then he made a dramatic comeback in March 2023, where he assisted Ben White’s equaliser and scored the last goal that made Arsenal win the match against Bournemouth.
  • Superb in 1vs1 situations: Nelson has repeatedly proven excellent in 1v1 situations. All four aspects of the game—physical preparation, mental approach, technical skill, and tactical knowledge—are essential in any one-on-one battle. It is the cornerstone of all strategies for an individual player and a team. Thanks to this talent, Hoffenheim’s coach Julian Nagelsmann noted that if he remained consistent, he could achieve international fame like players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Should Arsenal look for a better Nelson replacement?

Despite providing an assist and a match-winning goal against Bournemouth, Nelson’s future with Arsenal remains uncertain. The Arsenal board might choose not to renew his contract because of the following reasons:

  • Fluctuated performance: The winger has had it rough with the Gunners. Constant injuries have kept him out of play for most of the club’s matches, and that’s not a good record to hold.
  • Lack of playing time: Nelson’s primary disadvantage is his lack of playing time. For instance, in the 2022/23 Premier League, he made four appearances and played 102 minutes. There is a considerable gap when this record is compared to players like Martin Ødegaard. Arsenal’s captain debuted long after Nelson made 26 appearances and played for 2,231 minutes in the 2022/23 season.
  • Big-talented players ahead of him in the winger position: Nelson is undoubtedly talented, but there are even better talents that can replace him as the club’s winger. Good examples are Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Emile Smith Rowe.

Despite these concerns, reports indicate that Arsenal and Reiss Nelson are progressing towards a contract extension. However, these reports do not suggest that negotiations have reached a more advanced stage. Plus, other clubs have set their sights on him. So, if Reiss Nelson does not re-sign with Arsenal this summer, he might have offers from Brighton, OGC Nice, and Germany’s Bundesliga.