Reiss Nelson started his loan spell in electric form and it led to many Arsenal fans asking for him to be recalled.
You can see why, the Gunners have lacked quality in wide areas and the rise to fame of Callum Hudson-Odoi and Jadon Sancho have highlighted what can happen when you give these young players some confidence and playing time.
Nelson netted 6 goals at the start of the season, but has played just 566 minutes of Bundesliga football this season after falling out of favour at the club.
Many have wondered why he fell out of favour, considering his form was so good. Nelson has finally addresses this when speaking to the Press Association.
‘I held my hand up and I said sorry’: Reiss Nelson speaks out rollercoaster Hoffenheim loan spell
‘I was late to training, I was 20 minutes late, and that’s something I need to learn from,’ he told Press Association Sport ahead of England U21s’ friendly with Germany in Bournemouth on Tuesday.
‘You can make mistakes but it’s your job and you shouldn’t be late.
‘I held my hand up and I said sorry to him and we both moved on as bigger men. He put me in the squad the next week because I’d been doing well.
‘I’ve been out there for 10 months by myself. It’s not been easy and I haven’t had my mum or my brother about. I’ve got to do my own shopping, I haven’t got many friends out there but it’s my job and I’m there to play football.
‘When I do come back I do like to go out with my friends and see family because in Germany I’m on a mission. I do like to enjoy myself when I’m back but that’s normal for a guy my age.
‘I don’t get homesick but my family are very good, they’ll fly straight over and my brother will come and stay for a month and my mum will come over any time I ask her.’
It’s clearly been a year of learning for Nelson but I’m sure he has a big future at Arsenal, starting with next season. Alongside the likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Saka, Nelson has a real chance to earn a space in the first-team Arsenal squad next season and he will look to secure a spot following a positive pre-season.
Alex Iwobi is an example of a young player that has really progressed under Unai Emery. The Spaniard has given confidence to some youngsters and seems to have helped Iwobi with aspects of his game to take him to the next level. If Emery rewards Nelson with a similar amount of game time to Iwobi, then you can expect Nelson to be a special player in a couple of years’ time.
With Gareth Southgate eyeing youngsters for his Three Lions, Nelson only needs to catch the eye a few times to get a senior call up for the national team, following in the footsteps of Callum Hudson-Odoi.
Interestingly Hudson-Odoi never played for the under 21’s, whereas Nelson has already featured for them and scored twice. Both could be involved in their summer tournament, though.