Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has discussed the qualities of 17-year-old winger Reiss Nelson after he made the Gunners’ squad for this weekend’s Emirates Cup.
The teenage wide-man made quite an impression in some of the club’s earlier pre-season matches, playing mostly at right wing-back and looking a real threat going forward.
Wenger says he sees Nelson’s long-term future further forward, but has explained why he’s used him and why he feels he can benefit from improving the defensive side of his game for the time being.
‘He’s a more offensive player, more a guy who can play as one of the three strikers or as an offensive midfielder,’ Wenger told Arsenal Player.
‘What is good for his education is to play in this position as well because we learn how to cope with defensive responsibilities, and that’s a good part of the education of the modern player.
Arsenal's Emirates Cup squad
GOALKEEPERS: Petr Cech, David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez
DEFENDERS: Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Rob Holding, Nacho Monreal, Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac, Cohen Bramall
MIDFIELDERS: Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Iwobi, Granit Xhaka, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock
FORWARDS: Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, Reiss Nelson
‘As strikers or creative players, you tend to have two kinds of players. Some who are good at running with the ball, and some who are good at running off the ball.
‘He’s more a player who likes the ball to his feet and provokes opponents by passing them.’
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