Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka react as another Arsenal star picks up a serious injury out on loan

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As of this moment, Mikel Arteta is currently without five key first team players at Arsenal, a list that was recently added to by Kai Havertz.

Havertz has joined Gabriel Jesus and perhaps even Takehiro Tomiyasu in that his season is over for Arsenal, a bitter blow for Arteta and the club’s aspirations.

Mikel Merino did a stellar job as an auxiliary striker against Leicester City on the weekend, but things have still become undoubtedly harder for the Gunners.

Of course, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also missing right now, a duo who fans will hope to see back from their respective hamstring injuries next month.

Leandro Trossard has impressed recently, but Arsenal are still lacking up top.

That being said, a lot of fans in N5 were questioning whether Arsenal could have recalled Reiss Nelson from his loan at Fulham whilst injuries were piling up over January.

Reiss Nelson undergoes surgery after injury set-back at Fulham

Unfortunately, Nelson was injured at the time, an issue that stifled all of the good progress the Hale End graduate had been making under Marco Silva at Fulham.

And now Nelson has shared news on Instagram that he’s suffered a further set-back and that he has undergone surgery, a recovery which will presumably now lead into pre-season.

READ MORE: Mikel Arteta must demand Arsenal’s owners to replace one player in the summer after worrying Leicester display

Fulham recruited Willian as a free agent earlier this month, and perhaps that was a move to cover for the loss of Nelson, who was really starting to impress at Craven Cottage.

Taking to his Instagram, Nelson shared a picture after his surgery alongside a caption of:

“Life and football are all about setbacks and comebacks.

“This one hurts, but it’s just part of the journey. Surgery went well, I’m focused and determined to return stronger than ever.”

In reply to the post, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and tons of Arsenal players left their warm regards, a player who is clearly much loved among the Arsenal family. 

Nelson might finally say goodbye to Arsenal this summer

Of course, it now remains to be seen what the future holds for Nelson once he returns from this set-back.

Arsenal are interested in signing Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao in the summer, meaning that competition for places is only going to become tougher in north London.

Ethan Nwaneri has also emerged as a very promising option on the right, a player who appears to have Saka levels of potential.

All in all, it might be the summer when Nelson finally leaves the Emirates Stadium permanently, a player who will always be very popular in N5.

But for now, all focus will simply be on getting back fit, a winger who still has a lot of good times ahead.