Forget Bukayo Saka, Arsenal's 'original starboy' was someone else
Bukayo Saka is lovingly referred to as ‘starboy’ by Arsenal fans.
The Englishman joined the Gunners as a kid, came through the ranks at the academy, and has become the face of the club over the years.
Saka is most Arsenal fans’ favourite player, and everyone in and around the club loves him.
However, before the number seven became the fan favourite he is now, there was a different ‘starboy’ at the club.
Reiss Nelson was Arsenal’s ‘original starboy’ before Bukayo Saka
When Reiss Nelson was coming through the ranks at Arsenal, everyone thought he was going to be a future superstar.
The now 26-year-old played on both wings for the club’s academy sides, and he was almost always one of the most impressive players on the pitch.
At that point, Nelson was so highly rated that many in the game expected him to have a huge future as an Arsenal first-teamer.
However, for one reason or another, the academy graduate never quite fulfilled his potential, and his time at the club has now come to an end.
Arsenal terminated Nelson’s contract a few days ago and released him as a free agent. He has now joined Feyenoord in the Netherlands.
On Instagram, the Englishman penned an emotional farewell letter to the club he called home for most of his life.
Many of his current and former teammates showed him love in the comments. One of them is ex-Arsenal academy star Chris Willock.
“Original Starboy,” he wrote along with a heart emoji.
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What Thierry Henry said about Reiss Nelson proves he was the ‘original starboy’
It wasn’t just Arsenal fans who saw great potential in Nelson and expected him to be a star. Club legend Thierry Henry did too.
Back in the day, when the Frenchman worked with the youngsters, the now-ex-Arsenal winger caught his eye.
Henry hailed Nelson but also warned him about the future.
He said in 2017: “I worked with Reiss when I was at the Arsenal Academy and I was so impressed with him. He has all the attributes to make it.
“At the Academy, he was training and playing with the Under-18s – and he was only 16. But he was so good that, after two or three months, we felt he was wasting his time.
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“He was not learning anything because he was too good for that standard. So he was moved up to the Under-23s so he could work with stronger and bigger guys. This kid has all the talent to be knocking on the door of the first team.”
Henry then added: “Now, having all the attributes to make it and actually making it is a massive gap. It’s like the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
“He is about to enter the real world, the pro world. Can he handle it? Well, he has desire, confidence and a great attitude. He will run at you and be brave on the ball.”
The Arsenal legend concluded by saying: “You know when you see a player and you just want him to get the ball? He is that player. He has that ‘thing’. The rest is up to him.”
