Mikel Arteta: Reiss Nelson’s Eagerness Halted Potential Loan Move

Mikel Arteta says Reiss Nelson’s drive to compete for a place ended hopes of a loan move…

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted that Reiss Nelson’s desire to fight for his place halted initial plans to send him out on loan during the last transfer window, the Spaniard told reporters (via FourFourTwo).

Our business during the summer meant that we had a rather bloated squad towards the end of the window and much of the talk was about who may depart.

In a unique window due to the current global pandemic, clubs had less disposable income and so many of the deals done around Europe involved loans.

Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi left on loan, and speculation continued to rumble on about a number of other first-team players.

Nelson’s absence from the first few Premier League squads meant that he was at the forefront of the column inches with a move to a domestic side mooted.

Arteta admitted that was the plan, but the England U21 international convinced him to change course.

“We ended up with a large squad at the end of the transfer market,” Arteta explained ahead of our Europa League tie against Dundalk.

“We had a few plans in mind with Reiss. One of them was as well to send him on loan to get more minutes because of the competition we have upfront.

“The reality is he has been really good in training. He wants to stay here. He wants to fight for his place.”

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When asked about what ultimately changed Arteta’s mind, he said: “Reiss was really convinced that he wanted to fight to stay here.

“When you see that willingness and that passion and that security in a player you feel tempted to keep him even though you know that opportunities are going to be restricted and he is not going to have a lot of continuity in his play.”