Is It Time for Reiss Nelson to Accept His Arsenal Career Is Over? – Opinion

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·12 Agustus 2026

Is It Time for Reiss Nelson to Accept His Arsenal Career Is Over? – Opinion

With the Championship starting this weekend, West Ham are trying to arrange a deal for Reiss Nelson in time for their fixture at Burnley.

The Hammers are trying to call Arsenal’s bluff, refusing to pay a fee because they know that, in the past, the Gunners will eventually loan out a talent or even rip up a contract if it means reducing their wage bill.

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This game of poker could last until the end of August to see who blinks first.

Andrea Berta doesn’t hold many cards, with the player allowed to leave for nothing in 12 months. The Italian might even be receptive to a loan if the Irons cover the majority of his salary.

Our Director of Football could even trigger another year on the contract to protect his value, with an obligation or option potentially added to any loan.

While that would allow Reiss Nelson the chance to stay in London, it’s believed he has reservations about dropping out of the top flight.

If true, a loved one needs to have a heart-to-heart with the 26-year-old and maybe even give him some hard truths.

Nelson needs to think about his career

His career at the Emirates has been on life support for a while now, with the attacker aware that, if his employers had their way, he would have left North London a while ago.

At this point, he’s been sent out to four different clubs and, while he’s been unlucky with injuries, at no point has he convinced Mikel Arteta that he deserves to be involved in our first team consistently.

His agent deserves a pay rise for getting his client £100,000 a week. Since then, our academy graduate has acted like a competition winner, grateful to be paid to play for the team he loves but terrified they will eventually find out he has zero business at this level.

He knows the moment his contract expires, no one else will be paying that salary.

While not many voluntarily take a pay cut, friends or family need to ask him: what is more important to him?

He’s in danger of wasting his career.

Because this is no longer a youngster with a bright future. This is a man closer to 30 than 20, yet he’s only started 15 Premiership games since his debut eight years ago!

He might not want to hear this, but maybe the second tier of English football is where he belongs?

Reiss Nelson of Fulham (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Is it time for Reiss to let go?

All supporters want one of their own to make it and, because he’s from Hale End, I think he’s been given opportunities that others wouldn’t have, with Gooners less harsh than they would have been with others.

We did the same with Maitland-Niles and Eddie Nketiah, and Lewis-Skelly could be next.

When an Ozil refused loans and transfers, he was called greedy for wanting to respect the contract he was given.

What’s the difference if Reiss Nelson rejects a move across the English capital?

For himself… he needs to start again.

Dan Smith

Do you agree with Dan? Is it time for Reiss Nelson to accept that his Arsenal career is over and prioritise regular football, even if that means dropping down a division? Or is he entitled to wait for the right opportunity? Let us know in the comments.

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