There is usually at least one young player who grabs the chances handed to them by Arsene Wenger during the annual Arsenal pre-season training and friendly games, impressing both the fans and more importantly the manager with their ability.
The most recent young Gunner to do this and then break into the Arsenal first team was Jeff Reine-Adelaide and other notable recent examples are Chuba Akpom and Chris Willock, but the most successful graduates from the Arsenal academy in recent years are Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi.
The fact that we do not see too many very promising young players making the step up shows just how tough it is, but we could be about to see the latest Arsenal academy graduate who will make the grade in the shape of Reiss Nelson who put in a very impressive performance on the right flank as Arsenal beat Sydney FC in the first of the pre-season matches.
As reported on the Arsenal website, Wenger was full of praise for the 17-year old and suggested that he takes to playing in the side with top quality players very naturally. He certainly seemed right at home rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ozil, Walcott and Welbeck.
The boss said, “Since I’ve been in the game I’ve understood that you either have that [confidence] at 17 years of age or you don’t.
“Some of the players I’ve had in my career have turned 18 years old and it seems natural for them to be on the pitch. They just think, ‘Let’s play’ and Reiss behaves like that.
“They all did well today, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock as well had a very strong performance. They are young, just 17 or 18 years old, so that is very promising.
“Pre-season is there for that, for me to understand how close they are. It’s the first game, it’s a bit early. What they’ve shown tonight means they have the chance of being very, very close.”
What did you make of young Nelson? Will he be the next to get regular first team action with Arsenal?
Bob.
I was at that game. All the young guys did really well, as did our new signing Kolasinac. And when Lacazette tapped that goal in, the best part of 80000 mostly Arsenal fans erupted. Pity they didn’t play in red though.
All our young guns were impressive, this is the first time i am seeing that Bramall kid play and he looks pretty impressive and ready and they all can still improve but most especially, i will like to see Jeff Reine Adelaide given a chance beside xhaka or coq at the next game just to see if he’s finally ready, i really rate him and i think he will be good if he’s given a chance as well this season and who knows maybe he might grab his chance.
jeff is injured last time i checked
u made a right point, that boy is good
Really liked Nelson today
Actually, my favorite signing of last summer is Holding believe it or not. I like the other signings ie Xhaka, Mustafi, Lucas. But for me Holding has been really good at such a young age. He only cost £2 million and he was Bolton Wanderers Player of the Season the last summer. Holding cost £2 million and he is already better than Chambers who cost £16 million. Holding was a great signing.
Obviously Lacazette is the signing of this summer but Kolsanic on a free transfer is brilliant. He was one of Bundesliga best defenders last season. I have a lot of belief in him.
Please Mr Wenger get Lemar and a Top CM please. That will be enough. Our present looks good as well as our future
The cycle begins.
We are at the point where we feel So excited about next season. July.
By February the optimism weathers off.
Then we finish the season strongly either winning top4 (It’s a trophy) or winning the fa cup. May.
Then few signings and the excitement regenerates. July.
This cycle has on for 13 years!
Top Four is not a Trophy. HISTORY DOES NOT REMEMBER CLUBS THAT QUALIFIED for Europe. HISTORY remembers Clubs that win ”Silverware”
nice work admin….apologizes fr the earlier mixed thoughts… its a refreshing article
Really impressed with Nelson and Bielik.
Sydney FC had a number of players missing from their championship side from last season and had only been back in training for 2 weeks. Sydney FC also gave opportunities to their youth players with one 16 year old getting great experience.
The match was played in good spirit in front of 80,000 fans and although Sydney ran to the end and were willing in the challenges, there was no resort to ugly tackles. The fear of injury is always present friendlies. 80,000 plus will be there on Saturday night when Arsenal play Western Sydney Wanderers.
Arsene Wenger showed his usual class in the post match interview; when informed that goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne (His man of the match) had unsuccessfully trialed with Arsenal, he said “we made a mistake!”
Quote from the Sydney Morning Herald ” Arsenal are everything Liverpool were not”.
Ox could learn from Nelson. Nelson has excellent movement and uses his pace intelligently and the kid seems to have a good footballing brain unlike theo or ox. You never know he could be our kingsley coleman this season. He already has so much in his locker. Now I see why they aren’t that worried about ox signing a new contract. Bramall is also a star in the making and nearly scored a beauty today. Same thing with willock.
That guy does have a bright future.Calm,composed on the ball as a cucumber.Who knows,could be a possible star in the making.
Uh, Nelson against bayern’s of the world, joke, he ‘s still very young
Ah, gutted, why are we no more talking about Thomas lemar, we need his creative and zeal to move the ball forward ability in this arsenal team. Let’s not overlook the team’s lapses because of the joy of lacazette. This is typical wenger, why didn’t he pay his asking price…………city will pay 50mils for walker, y can’t he pay 50mils for the guy. Wenger the ditherer overlooking our needs again because of his stupid valuation of players
Lemar might become more difficult now. If any manager was gonna first have a look at Adelaide and Nelson and co, it is Arsene Wenger. Maybe we are looking at Lemar because Oxlade is refusing to sign, that’s thirty odd mil we’d miss out on if we run the risk. Oxlade strikes me as the type of player that wouldn’t bat an eyelid over a controversial move. He’d actually revel in it.
Let always no that Arden Wenger always impressed when we are talking about precison. But the may main thing premier league and good competition he failed there.let open our eyes for us to see .Wenger still have to know the future of ox,ozil and Sanchez. Ariving of lacazethe doesn’t mean we should sell Olivier Giroud he should just use that opportunity to create a competition for the team.but selling one buying one .it seems arsenal are not ready for the challenge.WE SHOULD NOT FORGET FORGET THE EUROPE LEAGUE WHERE PLAYERS GET INJURY.IF WENGER IS NOT CAREFUL HE MAY SIT NUMBER 7-8 POSITION
Sometimes I wonder what’s up with Wenger?…….why did he play Nketiah as a wing back…….the guy is a striker………..probably will be in the mold of Lacazette………..the dude scores lots of goals…….so stick him in there and let him work his ass off for his place……..the youngsters are hungry………give them have chances………..