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Emile Smith-Rowe impact highlights why Mikel Arteta should give Reiss Nelson his chance
Arsenal have strung together three wins in a row to bounce back from a woeful run of form which had many pundits doubting Mikel Arteta’s long-term future at the club.
The Gunners have been helped immensely by the performances of young playmaker Emile Smith-Rowe, who has stepped in amid numerous absences for the North London side.
His energetic style in the number 10 role has seen Arsenal have a new dimension in the attacking third. He even earned a rave review from Mesut Ozil, the ostracised Gunners star who he is technically keeping out of the team.
Nice game my boys! 🔥 Great spirit – 3 wins in a row ❤️👏🏼 Team looks good with a No10 like Emile Smith Rowe – the difference maker 💪🏼
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088)
So should Reiss Nelson be next in line for a chance in the Arsenal first-team once again?
Arsenal do not plan to loan Nelson out in January. It comes after the winger rejected such an idea in the summer, instead backing himself to thrive in the first-team at The Emirates.
Arteta praised that decision at the time.
“We had a few plans in mind with Reiss,” Arteta was in October. “One of them was to send him on loan to get more minutes because of the competition we have up front.
“The reality is he has been really good in training. He wants to stay here. He wants to fight for his place.”
With Nicolas Pepe and Willian not exactly igniting this season, Nelson deserves his chance to shine, just like Smith-Rowe has had his.
Nelson’s performances in the Europa League have been sublime and there is every chance he could help form a homegrown attacking trio along with Smith-Rowe and Bukayo Saka.
At the moment, Nelson is recovering after battling a niggling muscular complaint but Arteta has confirmed the 21-year-old is now getting back to match fitness.
Arsenal fans would undoubtedly love to see that and based on the evidence of the season so far, when it comes to Arsenal’s best players, homegrown seems to be the way.