Reiss Nelson became the third Arsenal player ever to do one thing as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners secured a 2-0 win over Luton Town in the Premier League this Wednesday.
The north London giants overcame the absence of Bukayo Saka due to his muscular injury to do the double over the Hatters this season. Arteta was without the winger after Saka did not shake the knock he sustained at Manchester City having also sat out the international break.
Captain Martin Odegaard was, however, on hand to lead Arsenal to victory at home to Luton in midweek. He broke the deadlock in the 24th minute from Kai Havertz’s square after Emile Smith Rowe picked Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s pocket before Daiki Hashioka’s (44’) own goal.
Reiss Nelson made Arsenal history in their 2-0 win over Luton Town
Arsenal losing Saka through injury also opened a door for Arteta to give Nelson an extremely rare start against Luton. It marked the 24-year-old’s first start in a Premier League game this season and only his fifth in all competitions. Nelson has registered a total of 23 appearances.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka from his age, parents and house
Of his outings, 15 have come in the Premier League for a mere 255 minutes so far this term. Nelson added 75 of those minutes to his tally against Luton before Gabriel Martinelli sprung off Arsenal’s bench. Arteta initially rested the Brazilian but wanted to get minutes in his legs.
But Nelson simply starting a Premier League game again also earned him a slice of Arsenal history against Luton. According to Opta, only Mathieu Flamini and Sol Campbell have so far ever registered a longer break between starting for Arsenal in two Premier League matches.
Reiss Nelson rewarded Mikel Arteta with a tidy performance
Nelson had not started in a Premier League game since Arsenal faced Liverpool in July 2020 before taking on Luton. Arteta made the winger wait 1,358 days (3 years, 263 days) to open another top-flight game. Just Flamini (5y, 162d) and Campbell (3y, 296d) have waited more.
In return for the rare start, Nelson rewarded Arteta with a tidy display in Saka’s void. He did not add to the forward’s one goal and two assists in all competitions this season. But Nelson might have hit home had Hashioka not intervened and the winger consistently worked hard.