Nelson keen to impress for Arsenal after loan stint in Germany

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson is determined to impress for the Gunners first-team next season following his season-long loan spell with Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old had a stop-start campaign with the German side due to injuries but he still made an impact with seven goals from 23 league appearances and was nominated for the Rookie of the Year award.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Nelson said that he is keen on making a comeback with the Gunners this term following a testing challenge in the Bundesliga, he said: “Arsenal is my main goal. After the Euros I’ll look to go back to pre-season, do that very strong and hopefully play for the team I love. “I haven’t spoken to him [Unai Emery] yet. The recruitment team said I need to concentrate on the Euros and then we’ll get back into Arsenal later on.

“It’s a different style the way the German players play. I think the English players like to play a lot of one and two touch and we can find each other in the pockets. In Germany it’s more physical. It’s a lot of aggressive runs in behind and getting into the box. I was happy I got that experience out there and I’m happy to be back.”

Nelson was widely expected to make a mark with the Gunners during the previous campaign but much to the surprise of many supporters, manager Unai Emery decided to loan him out. Nonetheless, the move should have proved beneficial with the teenager gaining more first-team experience and it remains to be seen whether he can win the confidence of the head coach through a strong pre-season performance.

The north London club are working on a restricted budget for the summer transfer window but they are still making moves for some of the targets. Out of those, Lorient’s Alexis Claude-Maurice and Saint-Etienne’s William Saliba have been earmarked as the prime candidates, who could head to the Emirates Stadium this summer. Nelson is currently on England under-21 duty at the European Championship.