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Reiss Nelson: I could have been a Tottenham player but chose Arsenal

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson has revealed he came close to signing for Tottenham before joining the Gunners.

Nelson is considered one of the brightest young talents at Arsenal and has impressed when given the chance in the first team this season.

The 17-year-old has made five appearances in the Europa League and Carabao Cup in a wing-back role, but says he could have been turning out for rivals Tottenham instead.

"I was nine years old, I used to play for a team in Catford," Nelson told the Arsenal Weekly Podcast. "I would get up every morning with my brother, get on the train and travel to Catford three times a week.

"I was there for about two months playing for a team called Moonshot FC. I got scouted for Tottenham and was there for three to four weeks before a phone call from Arsenal came. The first session they wanted to sign me so, happy days, I didn't look back."

Nelson says he has been made to feel at home by the first-team squad at Arsenal this season, singling out Alex Iwobi, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Hector Bellerin as those making a special effort with him.

"Alex Iwobi has really helped me. He's always making jokes and seeing I'm OK," he said.

"Lacazette as well is a nice guy. Ozil, Hector as well -- those are the boys that have taken me in as a person and a footballer as well."

On training regularly with the first team rather than with the under-23s, Nelson added: "The coaching is so much different and the environment -- you've got loads of first-team players and world-class players there."