With a trip to Moscow coming up this Thursday in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger took the chance to rest some of his big guns against relegation strugglers Southampton at the Emirates – and gave a start to 18-year-old youth star Reiss Nelson.
The move looked to have backfired as Shane Long put the south coast side into the lead on 17 minutes after some sloppy defending by Shkodran Mustafi.
Arsenal equalised on 28 minutes through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before Danny Welbeck made it 2-1 ten minutes later.
Replacement Charlie Austin seemed to have earned a point for the visitors on 73 minutes before Welbeck popped up with an 81st-minute header to see Arsenal home 3-2.
Here we analyse Nelson’s performance:
STATISTICS
Goals – 0
Assists – 0
Shots – 0
Shots on target – 0
Touches – 54
Passes – 46
Passing accuracy – 91.3
Key passes – 0
Aerials won – 0
Dribbles – 0
Dispossessed – 0
Reiss Nelson is the youngest player to start a #PL match for @Arsenal since September 2013 (18y 120d)#ARSSOU pic.twitter.com/KYfZBCPve7
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 8, 2018
30-SECOND REPORT
The popular young forward, who has represented England at every level from Under 16 to Under 19, is highly rated within the Gunners’ youth ranks and has enjoyed a breakthrough season this term.
He has already made 14 first-team appearances, with the majority of those coming in the Europa League. The teenager’s sole Premier League appearance before Sunday came as a substitute against Crystal Palace.
Replaced after 64 minute,s Nelson can be pleased with his starting debut, beginning quietly before growing into the match in the first half with some nice touches in both attack and defence and forming a promising partnership with Mohamed Elneny.
Looks comfortable at this level, without being dominant, and his confidence will need to grow – allowing him to get into more dangerous areas and take defenders on.
Its litttt, AFC groupchat after finding out Reiss Nelson is starting. pic.twitter.com/xsJruf3W0Z
— ✖️ (@Rxgista) April 8, 2018
GOT RIGHT
Link-up play – Took up good positions and got involved right from the start, making sure to offer an option to his team-mates. Had an impressive 54 touches, with 46 passes delivered at 91.3 per cent accuracy. No key passes however or assists, something he will hope to improve on.
Positioning – Nelson was shifted twice in the match. Starting the game wide on the right he was soon moved infield to let Hector Bellerin raid down the right wing. At the start of the second half he was moved wide again but this time further forward, in a traditional right wing role. He performed better in the central midfield role, not yet having the confidence to really exert his presence on the wing.
GOT WRONG
Attack – He was pushed further forward by Arsene Wenger in the second half as the manager clearly wanted Nelson to get in behind the Southampton defenders and send the ball across. Nelson tried hard but just couldn’t get the regular service that Wenger wanted so was replaced on 64th minute with Alex Iwobi moving into the right wing position.
Tentative – Making his starting Premier League debut at home, the England youth international was clearly nervous and seemed more intent on not making mistakes rather than making his mark. If he gets another chance he must take the ball on more, running at defenders and trying to stress the defence. He may end up losing the ball but he may also end up scoring (or assisting) a few goals.
Nelson was replaced on 64 minutes by Jack Wilshere
KEY MOMENTS
2nd minute FOULED: Just ninety seconds in Nelson is taken down in a nasty tackle by Dusan Tadic. It looks for a moment like his game might be over but he’s not going to miss a chance like this and he bounces up.
21st minute PASS: Nelson has been shifted infield by Wenger to give Bellerin a channel down the right. He links up well with Bellerin and Welbeck to give Bellerin space but the cross is easily picked off by the Southampton defence.
36th minute TACKLE: Tracks back well to put in a telling tackle on Dusan Tadic as the Southampton man looks threatening just outside the box. The move breaks down for Southampton and soon after Welbeck scores Arsenal’s second.
39th minute PASS: Works hard to win the ball in his own half and flicks the ball over a couple of Southampton players to send Elneny away.
41st minute PASS: Nice interchange of passing between Bellerin and Xhaka on the edge of the box but Bellerin is tackled and the move breaks down.
43 minute PASS: A superb ball to Welbeck sees him in acres of space on the halfway line. Welbeck charges forward but Aubameyang’s cross is cleared by the defence.
46th minute PASS: Cheeky. Nelson picks up a rebound on the edge of the box and back heels it crisply to Elneny who tees up Xhaka – but the shot is just pushed around the post. Nelson and Elneny linking up well.
52nd minute PASS: Nelson has been pushed wider and further forward by Wenger, playing a traditional right wing role. The Arsenal coach has obviously told him to get more involved as he is very busy, looking for a chance to get in behind.
64th minute SUBSTITUTED: With Southampton pushing hard for an equaliser Wenger brings on Jack Wilshere to shore up the midfield, substituting Nelson. The teenager walks off to generous applause from the home fans.
VERDICT
It was a good match to give Nelson his first Premier League start and without standing out, overall Nelson acquitted himself.
He did better in defence and link-up play, his passing accuracy no doubt a real plus for Wenger, but if he is to stay at this level he must make more of an impact going forward.
He doesn’t seem yet to have the pace of Raheem Sterling or the physicality of Jordon Ibe and his future may lie in the midfield more than the front line.
RATING 6/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
