Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson has said he’s ready to make the step up to the first-team and play wing-back following Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move to Liverpool.
The 17-year-old made quite an impression after being given a chance by manager Arsene Wenger in pre-season, but is yet to play a competitive game for the Gunners this season.
Still, there is a gap to be filled in the Arsenal first XI now after Oxlade-Chamberlain’s departure, with the England international previously one of the first choices to play at wing-back, either right or left.
Nelson can also play there, as well as in midfield or attack, and he has sent the message to Wenger that he’s ready to step up and play more regularly in whichever position required.
‘At the end of the day I’m a player and if the boss puts my in that position, I will do my best job for the team,’ Nelson told Arsenal Player.
‘At the moment I’m playing in a front three (for the Under-23s) and I’m finding my goals there, and feeling really confident there.
‘At the moment I’m happy to play in a front three or, if I have to do it for the team, play right wing-back as well.
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‘The boss said to me (on tour) to just play with freedom (at wing-back), play as I would normally play, I went out with that in mind and I think I showed that as well.
‘For the defending that I had to do, I decided to be smart and a lot of the older boys’ encouragement helped me to do that. It went well.’
Arsenal are known for trusting their young players and have promoted the likes of Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi with great success in recent seasons, with Nelson looking a decent candidate to be the next to make the same journey.
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