Reiss Nelson has revealed he intends to sign a contract extension to stay at Arsenal.
The 18-year-old’s current agreement expires next summer and talks have been ongoing for several months amid interest from clubs in the Premier League and Europe including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Nelson made his full League debut in last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Southampton at Emirates Stadium, after which he hinted he was close to finalising terms on a new deal, with manager Arsene Wenger indicating more opportunities lie ahead.
“It is a big achievement to sign for a big club like Arsenal so I’m just delighted with the contract and hopeful that I can sign it soon,” he told Standard Sport.
“Wenger is one of the biggest [influences] for me, he keeps pushing the youngsters — me, Eddie [Nketiah] and Joe [Willock] - I think he has got a bright future planned for us.
“We just have to keep training well and he is always going to push us and will give us first-team football when the opportunities arise.”
Nelson has made 15 appearances in all competitions in his breakthrough season at Arsenal. The teenager joined the Gunners’ youth set-up in 2008 but graduated into the Under-23s last term after excelling at Under-18 level.
In Pictures | Reiss Nelson's rise in 2017-18
He started three of Arsenal’s Europa League group stage games in a right wing-back role but was pushed further forward against Southampton, with Wenger having abandoned a 3-4-2-1 shape for a 4-2-3-1 system in recent weeks. “I find I’m comfortable out there, on the right or left wing,” he said. “I think I prefer the left but on the right I can do more one-two combination play and get in behind.
“A first-team start in the Premier League is always a step forward. I’ve just got to thank the boss and all my team-mates around me, pushing me and making me work harder.
“I did set one target [at the start of the season]: to make my first-team debut. I have done that. A Premier League start was on the cards but I need to score, that is the only one I haven’t achieved so fingers crossed I can get a cheeky goal before the end of the season.”
Nelson follows Alex Iwobi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as recent graduates from Arsenal’s academy and he said: “They are my friends as well so I always ask them a lot of questions.”
Arsenal have won six matches in a row, scoring 18 goals, and stand on the brink of a place in the Europa League semi-finals ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final, second leg against CSKA Moscow. Nelson said: “The opposition should be scared by our firepower.”
