During yesterday’s 5-2 win over Benfica in the Emirates Cup, a couple of relatively new faces stood out.
Reiss Nelson’s impressive pre-season continued, and he showed he’s got plenty of potential after another excellent performance.
The 17 year old caused the Portuguese side all kinds of problems, and he drew praise from Arsene Wenger after the game.
“He’s a young player of our academy and he had an encouraging pre-season,” said the manager. “He has shown that he can dribble, he can pass people, he is not fazed by the occasion and he looks confident.
“Of course it’s good for him, the confidence level that he can play in these kind of games.”
Meanwhile, new boy Sead Kolasinac, signed on a free transfer from Schalke earlier this summer, played as a left wing-back and as well as defending stoutly was involved well in the final third.
On him, Wenger said, “I think he has gone, in pre-season, from strength to strength. He started a bit nervous, but every single week he moved his level up and in the last game was already good and today again I think he was influential as well.
“The first two goals came from him. He looks powerful and the timing of his availability going forward was very good.”
Excitign couple of players. Look forward to seeing them develop.
If you like development, Arsenal is the club.
We may not get it right many times, but it is always interesting to be in the journey.
Sometimes there is something more than just winning pots. How we get there or try to is equally intriguing as it is frustrating in good measure.
Kolasinac is going to become the Bosscielny 2.0. That aggro is 10/10
He is a big bully
Exciting that he is so versatile too and can play Dm. A joy to watch when players take up unorthodox positions and another provides cover.
Well done Dick Law.
All those days in the mountains braving the snow, stalking the Bosnian beast.
So many expected assists for Kolasinac!
I think this may be a big season for iwobi too seems like he wants more playing time brillant on the ball and fast passing! pass selction is at a high level for one so young still must add more goals and assits already had a few lovely finishes in pre season good low socks too i like that ! Looking forward to seeing more of reiss nelson what a player we may have on our hands
But will Iwobi get enough playing time to have a big season, if we continue with back 3? He’s not displacing Alexis/Ozil, and can’t see him play wing back or in the middle. I hope he doesn’t get marginalised, loved watching him in first half of last season.
I agree. Iwobi has been very impressive in these preseason games.
Iwobi has sparkled.
Looks like Wenger prefers a forward role for him. I think he is our option next to or in for Ozil.
He has something of the “unpredictable” in him which is a quality we will need if/when Alexis leaves.
And Walcott too. Seems to be getting back to his best. I know he isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but like Giroud, he keeps reinventing himself. Shout out to iwobi wan too.
Yesterday was his very first good game in the system, so maybe too soon to call it the way you called it – but for sure, he looked very promising and I’ll be more than happy if he actually gets back to his best!
Always plays well in a TEAM of unselfish players.
I particularly liked his assist for Girouds header, was clever
I would just like to say I put him in my fantasy team before this performance! 🙂
I remember Kieran Gibbs skinning Canavaro in the Emirates cup and everyone being very exited- now we’re selling him to Watford.
I think when somebody looks that good at 17 there’s a good chance they’re going to go all the way. It’s pretty unusual.
He was plagued by a series of injuries for a bunch of his key developmental years. Halted his progress pretty badly. I still think there’s a good player there, but we’re moving on from those years now and it’s hard to see a way back in for him. I think he’s better than Watford.
And Kieran Gibbs played in our senior team for years, and for England. It doesn’t mean you turn into Roberto Carlos.
I was actually going to write something similar. Gibbs didn’t become a world beater but he’s played at the top level for 10 years and regularly been in contention for England. So he’s not exactly a flop, is he?
Everton and Inter the latest to express an interest in Nice’s Jean Seri
Another one from the prof. himself “timing of his availability” . His choice of words always amuses me.
Nacho (LCB) and Kola (LWB). Good healthy menu
I’d like to see Nelson officially promoted to the first team squad this season. Looks like a naturally gifted ?
I know what will happen next:
1. Lemar joining us for 55mil.
2. Then, Mbappe also joining with 70 mil + Sanchez on final transfer day. So it’s win-win solution for all.
3. By next year Arsenal crowned treble champions.
4. Wenger received knighthood from the Queen silent gooner.
5. Yes Sir Arsene Wenger the honorary chairman and advisor. New incoming manager is Thierry Henry, his assistants are Dennis Bergkamp & Jens Lehman to rule EPL for the next 30 years.
Great
Seeing Kolasinac standing next to some of the other players looks wrong. Like he’s playing against boys 🙂
Reading in he cup pls…looking at you, Gravenbachkckh.
I hope nelson and a few other talented youngsters get their chance this year. With the europa league we’ll never have a better opportunity to blood some youngsters. You never know how good they’ll become until you start playing them.
With no oil billionaires to rely on, arsenal have to consistently produce talented young players if we want to compete at the highest level.
I think the emergence of Nelson will help give us cover at RWB and allow Ox more time in the center of the pitch.
Pretty impressive how Kolasinac bumped into the Benfica player and outmuscled him and threw him to the ground before serving up that lob for Walcott to volley home. Can’t wait for him to do that to Costa(if that cunt still manages to cling on at Chelsea) or even Morata. Would be a jarring and cruel(and satisfying) welcome to the PL fresh from his mega-money move
Nah…Wenger is clueless.
We need a Director of Football.
yes so we can buy John Stones for 47m instead of Dick Law penny pinching on Rob Holding.
Or we can get Commoli, he is fantastic with Andy Carroll to Liverpool instead of this free guy Kolasinac…clearly we need David Dein as well.
Nelson is a fantastic prospect but best on a strong loan to further develop.
in current formation we are covered with the Ox able to play wing back on both sides, Bellerin, Kolasinac and Monreal.
As a hedge to Bellerin agitating because of his defective gene in the future, Nelson is rather good to have come through.
He may also have function further forward.
if iwobi can improve his awareness, hard work and willingness to work very hard, he could just be the ‘internal solution’ to take over carz?