Last summer, Reiss Nelson deliberated over whether to sign a new contract with Arsenal before eventually putting pen to paper on a new four-year deal.
In hindsight, it was perhaps not the best decision for the winger to make as he has received limited playing time this season.
Nelson made 15 appearances in the Premier League but just one of those was from the start and he didn’t score or assist in the top flight.
As Arsenal’s injury problems eased towards the end of the campaign, Nelson became an increasingly peripheral figure, to the extent that he was left out of the matchday squad for the last five league games of the season.
A lack of opportunities for Reiss Nelson
This should serve as a warning sign to Nelson that his situation is unlikely to improve if he is to remain at Arsenal this summer.
Arsenal need a backup option for Bukayo Saka, but the evidence suggests that Mikel Arteta has little faith in Nelson to perform that job on a regular basis.
There were some positives to take from the season for Nelson – he scored against Brentford in the Carabao Cup and also provided two assists in the Champions League.
However, overall it was a hugely frustrating campaign for a player who at the age of 24 should be playing regularly by now.
Nelson went down in Arsenal folklore for his memorable late winner against Bournemouth in 2023 and it would be a shame to see one of the longest-serving youth products depart the club.
Nelson needs regular playing time to give him confidence
However, for the sake of his own career, Nelson should be looking to secure a move elsewhere. It is often the case that Nelson requires a run of games in order to build up consistency but it seems highly unlikely that he will be given that chance at Arsenal.
When he is at his best Nelson is capable of causing major problems for opponents with his flair and he deserves the chance to show what he can do.
Nelson has the ability to start regularly for a team in the bottom half of the Premier League and he also possesses some experience of playing in other countries from his loan spells at Hoffenheim and Feyenoord.
When he was progressing through the ranks at Hale End, Nelson was widely seen as an excellent prospect for the future and a player who could potentially be a star for Arsenal. It hasn’t quite transpired like that, but Nelson is still talented and he now needs to take the next step in his career.