West Ham United Eye £100k-A-Week Arsenal Outcast After Dortmund Snub: Can Nuno Actually Use Him In His System?

West Ham United Eye £100k-A-Week Arsenal Outcast After Dortmund Snub: Can Nuno Actually Use Him In His System? West Ham United are exploring a loan deal for Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson, according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth , as Nuno Espírito Santo searches for attacking options following the club’s relegation to the Championship. West Ham United explore Arsenal loan after Dortmund snub Nelson’s situation at Arsenal looks increasingly awkward. The 26-year-old sat unused on the bench against Borussia Dortmund, while his contract has entered its final year and his chances of forcing his way into Mikel Arteta’s plans appear slim. Regular football has become the priority. During his 2025/26 loan spell at Brentford, Nelson made 10 Premier League appearances, yet every outing came from the bench and he managed only 125 minutes. He failed to score and registered one assist. His two EFL Cup games produced one goal and one assist. Those figures hardly tell the whole story, though. Nelson barely played. That’s why West Ham could see a bargain if Arsenal prove willing to strike the right agreement. A loan would give the Hammers a chance to assess a player who still has genuine Premier League pedigree without committing to a sizeable transfer fee. T4O take: Why West Ham United could use Nelson GIRONA, SPAIN – AUGUST 01: Reiss Nelson of Arsenal FC looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Girona FC and Arsenal FC at Montilivi Stadium on August 01, 2026 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) West Ham need proper width. Following relegation, Nuno needs players who can take responsibility with the ball, attack full-backs and turn possession into territory rather than endlessly shifting the ball sideways. Nelson brings that profile. His broader career per-90 figures show 0.28 expected goals, 0.22 expected assists, 2.65 successful dribbles, 4.80 progressive carries and 1.95 key passes. Those numbers would put him above the standard expected from many Championship wide players. More importantly, his game suits the division. Promotion contenders often face packed defences and low blocks, which makes a winger capable of beating his man particularly valuable. Nelson can carry the ball through pressure and create openings for forwards such as Taty Castellanos. The Brentford spell shouldn’t scare West Ham off. It simply gave him too few minutes to judge. West Ham United must get the finances right The £100,000-a-week salary changes the conversation. West Ham United cannot take that entire burden without considering the wider cost, especially after dropping into the Championship. A loan makes far more sense, ideally with Arsenal paying part of the wages. An £8m to £10m obligation, triggered only if West Ham secure promotion, would offer a sensible middle ground. That way, Nelson gets the starts he needs, and West Ham avoid an expensive gamble. At 26, he doesn’t need another season watching from the bench. He needs the ball, the pitch and a reason to remind people why Arsenal once rated him so highly.