London: Arsenal midfielder Reiss Nelson hopes to sign a new contract with the club in the coming weeks after making his full Premier League debut last weekend.
The 18-year-old, who featured in all of Arsenal’s Europa League group stage matches this season, started Sunday’s 3-2 league win over Southampton.
“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,” Nelson told British media.
“I did set one target — to make my first-team debut. I have done that, I have had 15 appearances.
“A Premier League start was on the cards but I think 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 has benefited from Wenger’s decision to rest key players against Southampton, making seven changes from the side who beat CSKA Moscow 4-1 in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
“He (Wenger) is one of the biggest (influences) for me,” Nelson added.
“He keeps pushing the youngsters — me, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock — I think he has got a bight future planned for us.”
Arsenal visit Moscow for Thursday’s second-leg against CSKA.
Meanwhile, Liverpool-bound Naby Keita is expected to face Marseille in RB Leipzig’s Europa League quarter-final, second-leg, despite limping off against in the Bundesliga.
“Thankfully, it’s just a hip bruise, so hopefully there is no threat for Thursday,” said Leipzig coach Ralph Hasenhuettl.
Keita, who will join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool next season, came off late in Leipzig’s 4-1 loss to Leverkusen on Monday.
Keita, a defensive midfielder, collided with Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno in the 74th minute at the Red Bull Arena and went off soon after.
Leipzig will fly to Marseille for a place in the semi-finals holding a slender 1-0 lead after Germany striker Timo Werner scored the only goal in last week’s first leg.
Liverpool are expected to pay 70 million euros, including bonuses, for the Guinea midfielder, who has consistently been Leipzig’s midfield engine.
He has scored five goals and provided five assists in 23 league appearances this season.
— Agencies
Fixtures:
Marseille v RB Leipzig
CSKA Moscow v Arsenal
Sporting v Atletico Madrid
Salzburg v Lazio
All matches at 11.05pm