Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals the ‘different level’ player he feels could be ‘really important’ for title push

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has claimed that academy talent Reiss Nelson has gone to a ‘different level’ and that he could become more important between now and the end of the season.

The winger was a late substitute against Bournemouth, and helped inspire an impressive comeback. Firstly, he grabbed an assist for Ben White’s goal, before he unleashed a strike of his own with virtually the last kick of the game to grab all three points for the Gunners.

Arsenal fans telling Reiss Nelson to shoot and him doing it to seal Arsenal win vs AFC Bournemouth is the best feeling ever. Mikel Arteta and Martin ødegaard reaction sums it all ❤️pic.twitter.com/cL0zK5BKLr

— Perato N_Senior💙 (@PeratoN_Senior) March 4, 2023

And Mikel Arteta has hinted that it could be the start of something special for the Hale End talent.

“I always saw the potential,” the Gunners boss revealed after the dramatic win over the Cherries. “The talent and the desire for him to do it, but he’s at a different level right now. I think emotionally, the experiences that he had helped him.

“Football-wise, it was my decision in the last two games not to play him because we had other options. But he was knocking on the door, he’s been training really good and it’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and that he can be really important for the team.”’

✅ 3 goals
✅ 2 assists

Reiss has provided the most goal contributions as a substitute in the @PremierLeague this season 🦋 pic.twitter.com/Pb3ruYAcYT

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 5, 2023

Nelson is out of contract in the summer as it stands, and the 23-year-old has made no secret of his desire to remain at his boyhood club if the option is available, but he has not yet been offered a new deal at the Emirates.

“He’s been a part of our academy system and now he’s going to have an opportunity. He’s been out for almost three months with an injury, he’s back now, he’s fully fit and he’s ready to play. He just needs minutes now.

“His attitude and the way he’s matured and evolved over the past year or so has been really impressive, I think everybody is talking about it and now he needs to do it on the pitch.”