Our View: ‘Special’ Arsenal player has just moved closer to a January exit

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Reiss Nelson got his first Arsenal start of the season on Thursday night but his failure to impress may push him closer to a January exit.

This was a stronger than expected Arsenal side, which meant that Nelson got the chance to play alongside many of Mikel Arteta’s best talent.

But he had just 39 touches of the ball, as per WhoScored, before being substituted just before the hour mark.

He made no key passes and had no shots on target in that time on the pitch, with only one of his three crosses proving accurate.

Nelson could make Arsenal exit in January

Nelson spent last season out on loan and has had to be patient this season to get his chance to impress in the first team.

Arteta did not even start him in the home game against Bodo/Glimt, bringing him on for just eight minutes as a cameo at the end of that one.

Marquinhos looks to be ahead of him in the pecking order out wide, and has taken his chances more impressively in the Europa League.

The Brazilian has a goal and an assist to his name in Europe already and looks a more confident and dangerous option than Nelson right now.

Arsenal were already looking for a new winger to replace Nicolas Pepe in the summer, which underlines that Arteta does not think Nelson is ready to do that, despite calling him ‘special‘ recently.

Top target Pedro Neto has now had surgery which may put Arsenal off, but a new wideman and central midfielder have to be the priorities for the Gunners now.

That means Nelson could leave to make space in the squad and get his own career going again by playing regular football.