Wenger Says Ox Exits Opens Door For Reiss Nelson

Arsene Wenger has said that the sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool will open the door for youngsters like Reiss Nelson to come through (via Arsenal.com).

It was a strange last few days of the transfer window for Arsenal.

That late £92 million for Thomas Lemar being accepted and Alexis Sanchez’s potential move to Manchester City grabbed the headlines but it was only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who actually made the move.

Oxlade-Chamberlain signed for Liverpool on deadline day and now Arsene Wenger has spoken about the deal for the first time.

“I wish him well and I wish him all the best, you know, and I am thankful for what he has done here,” Wenger said in his pre-match press conference.

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“At the end of the day, you make decisions that you choose one or the other one. We had to sell somebody and overall I believe that we are today in a strong financial situation as always and we have a good enough squad to compete.

“That doesn’t take away any of the quality of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, I think he is a great player but sometimes it opens the door for some younger players like Reiss Nelson or Joe Willock, or players who are in behind and get an opportunity that they wouldn’t get.”

It’s good to see that Wenger has named Reiss Nelson as Oxlade-Chamberlain’s replacement in the team. Nelson is one of the best young players to come from the Arsenal academy in some time and could play a major role in the first-team in the future with the right management.