Reiss Nelson has revealed he intends to sign a contract extension to stay at Arsenal.

The 18-year-old’s current agreement expires next summer and talks have been ongoing for several months amid interest from clubs in the Premier League and Europe including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

Nelson made his full League debut in last Sunday’s 3-2 win over Southampton at Emirates Stadium, after which he hinted he was close to finalising terms on a new deal, with manager Arsene Wenger indicating more opportunities lie ahead.

“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,” he told Standard Sport.

“Wenger is one of the biggest [influences] for me, he keeps pushing the youngsters — me, Eddie [Nketiah] and Joe [Willock] - I think he has got a bright future planned for us.

“We just have to keep training well and he is always going to push us and will give us first-team football when the opportunities arise.”

Nelson has made 15 appearances in all competitions in his breakthrough season at Arsenal. The teenager joined the Gunners’ youth set-up in 2008 but graduated into the Under-23s last term after excelling at Under-18 level.

In Pictures | Reiss Nelson's rise in 2017-18 8 show all In Pictures | Reiss Nelson's rise in 2017-18 1/8 Pre-season promise Reiss Nelson wowed many Arsenal fans when he featured on the right-wing in a pre-season friendly win over Sydney FC. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/8 Wowing the home crowd Nelson continued to impress in the Emirates Cup, with Standard Sport revealing that Arsene Wenger had earmarked him as the replacement for Liverpool-bound Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/8 Debut day After three minutes in the Community Shield Nelson made his first competitive appearance for his boyhood club, playing seven minutes in a Europa League tie against Cologne. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/8 Youth team success Having established himself in Wenger's first team Nelson continued to shine at youth level, scoring five goals in his first four Premier League two games. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/8 A first start Less than a week after his Cologne debut Nelson made his first start, playing as a right wing-back in an EFL Cup tie with Doncaster. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/8 The big leagues Nelson had to wait until January 20 for his first Premier League appearance, playing 18 minutes in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/8 'Title' chase Though the senior side struggled Arsenal's youth team were battling for silverware, Nelson scoring as they beat Chelsea U23s 3-1 to establish them among the leading contenders for the Premier League 2 crown. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Premier League start With the Europa League now the priority Wenger handed Nelson a first top flight start against Southampton on April 8. The 18-year-old was Arsenal's youngest starter since Serge Gnabry in September 2013. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/8 Pre-season promise Reiss Nelson wowed many Arsenal fans when he featured on the right-wing in a pre-season friendly win over Sydney FC. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/8 Wowing the home crowd Nelson continued to impress in the Emirates Cup, with Standard Sport revealing that Arsene Wenger had earmarked him as the replacement for Liverpool-bound Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/8 Debut day After three minutes in the Community Shield Nelson made his first competitive appearance for his boyhood club, playing seven minutes in a Europa League tie against Cologne. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/8 Youth team success Having established himself in Wenger's first team Nelson continued to shine at youth level, scoring five goals in his first four Premier League two games. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/8 A first start Less than a week after his Cologne debut Nelson made his first start, playing as a right wing-back in an EFL Cup tie with Doncaster. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/8 The big leagues Nelson had to wait until January 20 for his first Premier League appearance, playing 18 minutes in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/8 'Title' chase Though the senior side struggled Arsenal's youth team were battling for silverware, Nelson scoring as they beat Chelsea U23s 3-1 to establish them among the leading contenders for the Premier League 2 crown. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Premier League start With the Europa League now the priority Wenger handed Nelson a first top flight start against Southampton on April 8. The 18-year-old was Arsenal's youngest starter since Serge Gnabry in September 2013. Arsenal FC via Getty Images

He started three of Arsenal’s Europa League group stage games in a right wing-back role but was pushed further forward against Southampton, with Wenger having abandoned a 3-4-2-1 shape for a 4-2-3-1 system in recent weeks. “I find I’m comfortable out there, on the right or left wing,” he said. “I think I prefer the left but on the right I can do more one-two combination play and get in behind.

“A first-team start in the Premier League is always a step forward. I’ve just got to thank the boss and all my team-mates around me, pushing me and making me work harder.

“I did set one target [at the start of the season]: to make my first-team debut. I have done that. A Premier League start was on the cards but 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 follows Alex Iwobi and Ainsley Maitland-Niles as recent graduates from Arsenal’s academy and he said: “They are my friends as well so I always ask them a lot of questions.”

Arsenal have won six matches in a row, scoring 18 goals, and stand on the brink of a place in the Europa League semi-finals ahead of Thursday’s quarter-final, second leg against CSKA Moscow. Nelson said: “The opposition should be scared by our firepower.”