You would have thought that with a tight transfer budget Arsenal would move fast to secure the futures of some of their brightest prospects and none are brighter than Reiss Nelson who spent last season on a successful loan at Bundesliga side Hoffenheim.
But not Arsenal, they have left the 19-year-old hanging and told him they will discuss what next season holds for him after the U21 Euros.
When asked if he had spoken to Unai Emery about his future the teenager responded,
“I haven’t spoken to him [Unai Emery] yet.
“The recruitment team said I need to concentrate on the Euros and then we’ll get back into Arsenal later on.”
Nelson appeared in 19 Bundesliga games for Hoffenheim last season but only actually started five and yet he still found the back of the net on seven occasions and also appeared in five Champions League fixtures, not a bad experience for the lad but apparently, the hierarchy at the club remain unconvinced.
If he is good enough for the Bundesliga you would have thought he would have something to offer Arsenal who needs to be careful with their spending and obviously, Nelson would not cost them a single cent and on top of that, he is probably on a very low wage.
If he becomes disillusioned at the Emirates then Arsenal will only have themselves to blame for not offering the young forward an opportunity.
I can understand that asking him to wait until after the U21 Euros would be the sensible thing to do but these are not normal circumstances and he will no doubt be reading all the gossip like the rest of us including the many teenagers that we are reportedly interested in.
What a way to show him that we appreciate him and see a great future for him at the Emirates.
And before anyone says that I am overreacting just look around you at other clubs, Callum Hudson-Odoi at Chelsea as an example, these kids want to be appreciated and to feel like they are wanted.
I am not sure too much is going to change from recent years.