Arsenal hero is still grateful to Feyenoord: ‘Hope learned’

Arsenal won 5-0 over Nottingham Forest last Sunday, convincingly washing away the sour aftertaste of the defeat against PSV three days before. Reiss Nelson scored twice as a substitute, and looked back on his time at Feyenoord in conversation with the Daily Mail.

“Yes, I am grateful to Feyenoord for giving me the chance to play,” Nelson said. “I think I became a much better player by playing in big games, like the Conference League final against AS Roma.” He says he also learned a lot from the Dutch Klassieker: “Going to visit Ajax, with an atmosphere I had not experienced before, it only helps you. I learned a lot in Holland, and became more mature there.”

Against Nottingham Forest, Nelson was allowed to play in the Premier League for the first time this season. He filled in for the injured Bukayo Saka within half an hour, and impressed in the hour he had afterwards with two goals and an assist. They were his first goals at the highest level in England since July 2020. Nelson then scored once in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Liverpool.

Contract extension

With his two goals, Nelson hopes to have paved the way to more playing time this season, as well as an extension of his contract. After all, that expires after the current term. “It would be great if I get an offer from Arsenal,” believes Nelson, “and I want nothing more than to commit to this club for longer.” He realises that the competition at the English frontrunner is not small. “Of course it is difficult to get only five or 10 minutes each time,” he says. “But every chance I get I want to do everything I can to help the team.”