As expected Reiss Nelson has been included in the England squad for the European Under 21 Championships this summer.
The Arsenal man has just spent a year on loan at Hoffenheim, scoring 7 Bundesliga goals and making 1 assist, and his aim now is to return to North London and stake a claim for a first team place.
The exciting winger has scored twice in five appearances for the England U21s, both of them coming during the qualification campaign.
England are in a group with France, Romania and Croatia, with their first fixture taking place on June 18th.
His participation means that his presence on the US tour in July is in doubt, as he’d require some holidays, and depending on England’s progress he could be involved as late as June 30th.
He joins Krystian Bielik and Matteo Guendouzi as U21 Gunners in the tournament this summer.
England U21 squad
Goalkeepers: Angus Gunn (Southampton), Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Freddie Woodman (Newcastle United)
Defenders: Jake Clarke-Salter (Chelsea), Jay Dasilva (Chelsea), Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Jonjoe Kenny (Everton), Ezri Konsa (Brentford), Fikayo Tomori (Derby County, loan from Chelsea), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace)
Midfielders: Harvey Barnes (Leicester City), Hamza Choudhury (Leicester City), Kieran Dowell (Everton), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolves), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Derby County), Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Aston Villa), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Demarai Gray (Leicester City), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal), Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth)
Scored many goals at the start but found game time limited. Made a point of watching as many of their games because of him.
He clearly would have benefited from playing in a club at Bremen’s level because with their bigger targets at Hoffe, he would be understandably left out. In most cases he would be thrown on to help chase the game.
Looking at his game though,which looked understandably immature most times, he clearly would benefit from another season long loan especially where he can be counted on as a regular starter.
Where is Maitland niles
As a right back he’s being kept out by Wan Bissaka (fair enough) and one of those Chelsea lads (don’t know which one) and as a midfielder, to be fair that set of plays are all very good and he’s being playing at right back so I guess they think it’s unfair to pick him. I think he’s just a bit unlucky- but seeing how good he can be I am surprised he’s not in there
I’m mildly surprised he’s not in the England squad proper
I find it a bit odd AMN hasn’t been in any of the England U21 squads this past season given he was integral to the U20’s World Cup win and has been getting regular playing time at Arsenal (granted mostly as a full back) and has demonstrated the versatility needed in tournament football. Not complaining, better for us he has pre season here
I think it is better for him to spend pre season with us, rather than go to U21 competition.
No surprise. Consistency will be an issue for most of these young players.
BUT he is good enough to contribute to the first team and is one of the few we have with the ability and temerity to take on players one on one,something this team deeply lacks (besides Iwobi and Lacazette)
Still, we will need one more (experienced) winger even with Nelson (and Iwobi)
But lest sign him into first team quickly before his head is turned and we lose him like we did Gnabry.