OPINION
Arsenal have enjoyed a hugely promising start to the Unai Emery era with the club putting in some scintillating performances to sit fifth in the Premier League table after 11 games.
The Gunners are obviously not the finished article but the signs have been all positive since the Spaniard took the reins in the summer, with their attack looking particularly devastating so far this season.
Meanwhile in Germany, Reiss Nelson, one of the club’s most-promising youngsters has been in similarly good form for Hoffenheim since his loan move there in the summer.
The 18-year-old winger has scored five goals in six Bundesliga games for Hoffenheim, and has caught the eye with some stunning displays since his switch.
Emery is obviously well aware of Nelson’s talents and his form in Germany, and when asked about a potential early recall for the youngster, he said: “At the moment we don’t speak about that,” as quoted by the Evening Standard.
By not ruling out an early return immediately, Emery has essentially admitted that it is something he may consider for Nelson in the January window.
While there will be many Arsenal fans keen to see Nelson back in the club colours as soon as possible, this is a move which will not benefit anyone at all.
Nelson’s development is obviously going well at Hoffenheim, and he will clearly get far more game time in Germany than he would at the Emirates, even after his scintillating start to the season.
He would likely sit on the bench and get the occasional run-out if he was to return, instead of starting games and scoring goals if left at Hoffenheim.
There is plenty of time for the 18-year-old dazzler to come back and make an impact for the first-team next season, and they are not exactly crying out for attacking reinforcements at the moment anyway.
All in all this would be an ill-advised move from Emery, who would be inflicting unnecessary damage on Nelson’s prospects with such a recall.