Reiss Nelson 'close to agreeing new Arsenal contract'

Arsenal attacker Reiss Nelson is reportedly close to agreeing a new contract with the Gunners.

The 23-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout the 2022-23 season, while the form of Bukayo Saka has also restricted his game time under Mikel Arteta.

However, Nelson has proven to be a useful option off the bench, scoring three goals and setting up two more in cameo roles during the current Premier League campaign.

All five of those contributions have come in two games, including March's 3-2 win over Bournemouth, where Nelson came off the bench to set up Ben White's equaliser before scoring a dramatic injury-time winner.

Prior to that five-goal success, Nelson stepped in against Nottingham Forest in October after Saka went off injured in the first half, and he ended that 5-0 victory with two goals and an assist to his name.

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The former England Under-21 international is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, though, and talks over a new deal have so far not yielded a positive solution.

Nelson, who affirmed last year that he wanted to stay in North London, is believed to have already rejected two renewal offers, but Arsenal could finally strike an agreement with his camp over a third.

According to The Athletic, Nelson is on the verge of penning a new four-year contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, and his fresh terms will also include a 12-month extension option.

Arsenal have rewarded Nelson with a new long-term deal to highlight his importance to the squad, and the attacker will snub interest from the Premier League and abroad to continue in red and white.

All of AC Milan, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham and West Ham United were believed to have been keeping tabs on Nelson's development, but the winger could now celebrate two decades in North London should he see out his proposed new deal.

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Nelson joined Arsenal's Hale End academy in 2007 and has since made 65 appearances for the senior team, scoring seven goals and setting up seven more in that time.

The Englishman has also enjoyed positive loan spells with Hoffenheim and Feyenoord, helping the latter reach the final of the Europa Conference League last year.

Nelson could become the fifth Arsenal player to extend their contracts this season, with Saka and Aaron Ramsdale committing their futures to the club earlier this month.

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes have also signed on the dotted line, and the Gunners are working on extensions for William Saliba and captain Martin Odegaard.

Nelson - who is yet to start a Premier League game this season - missed last weekend's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest due to illness but could return for Sunday's season finale against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates.