Arsenal gamers’ behaviour speaks volumes as switch choice made
Arsenal will have several big decisions to make with players when the summer transfer window opens on June 15
Reiss Nelson spent the season on loan at Brentford from Arsenal (Image: (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images))
Brentford have heaped praise on Reiss Nelson’s attitude despite confirming that he has returned to Arsenal following a season-long loan spell with Keith Andrews’ side. The 26-year-old suffered an injury-plagued campaign, restricting him to just 14 outings for the Bees.
Brentford held the option to make his switch permanent had Nelson sufficiently impressed Bees manager Andrews. The midfielder appeared once for Arsenal last season prior to joining Fulham on a temporary deal.
The Gunners academy product is entering the final year of his contract, and Arsenal will be seeking a sale. His homegrown status means any transfer fee received will represent pure profit – providing a welcome boost for the Gunners’ compliance with profit and sustainability rules.
“Reiss Nelson has returned to Arsenal following the conclusion of his season-long loan deal,” Brentford stated in a social media announcement. “We thank Reiss for his contribution to a good season for the club, and wish him well in everything he goes on to in the future.”
Meanwhile, Brentford director of football Phil Giles has lauded Nelson while describing his impact on Andrews’ squad on the club’s official website on Friday.
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He said: “Reiss came at the end of last summer’s transfer window, having not played significant minutes since December 2024 while on loan at Fulham.
“Whilst I’m sure he would’ve preferred more Premier League minutes with us during the loan, he has nevertheless made a good contribution with his positivity, attitude and experience around training and matchdays, and leaves us in a better place physically than when he joined.
“On behalf of everyone at Brentford, I’d like to thank Reiss for his contribution to a good season for the club, and wish him well in everything he goes on to in the future.”
Recurring injuries have proved the greatest hindrance to Nelson’s career throughout his early to mid-20s. He went under the knife while on loan with Fulham during the previous campaign, which curtailed what appeared to be a fruitful stint with Marco Silva’s outfit.
The Portuguese manager held Nelson in high regard and had been instrumental in driving their pursuit last summer. Yet he ultimately moved to the Bees and now confronts an unclear future ahead of the summer transfer window opening on June 15.
Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has previously expressed his conviction that Nelson could achieve “the next level”. The Englishman boasts 90 first-team outings for the Gunners – netting eight goals and registering nine assists.
Speaking in late 2022, Arteta said: “We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special.
“He’s been a part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity. He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, he’s back now, he’s fully fit and he’s ready to play. He just needs minutes now.
“His attitude and the way he’s matured and evolved over the past year or so has been really impressive, I think everybody is talking about it and now he needs to do it on the pitch.”
