The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
The six allocated minutes of stoppage time are up, and Arsenal’s barrage of relentless attacks on the Bournemouth goal have resulted in a corner. One final corner, after which will come the final whistle to signal the end of their spirited fightback from 2-0 down. A draw seems inevitable – only Reiss Nelson hasn’t been following the script. As the ball is cleared towards the winger on the edge of the box, he knows he has no choice but to pull the trigger. And bang: a half-volley that couldn’t be struck any sweeter soars into the back of the net. Delirium ensues.
Coming on in the second half and completely changing the tempo of the game, Nelson had already played a part in Ben White’s equaliser to make it 2-2 – but obviously he wasn’t done there. After the goal he was chased around by elated teammates who were going wild with emotion, but Nelson just gestured for them to relax, as he calmly ran to celebrate with an ice-cold look on his face. How could he stay composed after a goal like that?
“It was surreal, you know? I think once the ball hit the net, I didn’t realise what I had done until I saw everyone going crazy. And then, during the celebrations, I was telling everyone to calm down. But the excitement for everyone was just through the roof.”
On a sunny day at the club’s training facility in London Colney, an event organised by Socios has provided three Arsenal fans with an experience they will carry with them for a long time. These lucky fan-token holders have earned the chance to spend the afternoon with some of their club heroes; smiling from ear to ear, they are soon introduced to Nelson, plus team-mates Rob Holding and Eddie Nketiah. Each of them partner up with a fan and engage in everything from trivia challenges to mini games with a ping-pong ball – all of which, after a little joking around, get very competitive very quickly. Occupational hazard?
After the fun and games, Nelson sits down for more chat about that goal. Even though the Premier League title wasn’t meant to be, that crucial goal against Bournemouth was a highlight among many positives for Mikel Arteta’s side, brimming with youth, talent and character. “It was probably the most beautiful moment I've had in my career so far,” says Nelson. “I felt the love from literally everyone. It was just an amazing feeling.”
It was particularly sweet for Nelson, who was once just a young boy kicking a ball around in the cages of southeast London’s Aylesbury Estate, dreaming of one day representing his beloved team. Because he was brought up through Arsenal’s youth system, there has never been a lack of affection from the fans towards the Englishman, pushing him to be better. While opportunities to get on the pitch this season have been limited, when they have come he has made the most of them – the Bournemouth goal being a perfect example.
The Gunners’ young core have taken the team to new heights, backing up their talent with resilience and courage. For a team so hungry, missing out on the league title will have been heartbreaking, but the positives have been there for everyone to see. Not least the promised land of Champions League football, which awaits them for the first time in seven years.
“All the players, all the fans and all the coaches are just really buzzing with it,” says Nelson. “I feel like it’s been a long time coming and I think if there’s any season, it's this season that we deserve to get back in there. Arsenal is a great club and I feel like that’s where we belong, in the Champions League.”
Many a childhood hero has played a part in Nelson’s love for this club, especially after seeing them don the famous jersey on a European night. “You grow up watching all the best players, the likes of Thierry Henry and Robert Pirès, playing on these special nights,” he says. “Being a part of that will be somewhat of a childhood dream.”
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