Arteta prediction realised for ‘special’ Nelson after Arsenal breakthrough

Arteta praises Ramsdale after clean sheet on Arsenal return

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has already proved he has no issue in turning to Reiss Nelson to solve his injury problems after being left without three key players against Bournemouth. The Gunners have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the new campaign but face a tough trip to the South Coast with a depleted attack, and Arteta may finally decide to give Nelson a chance to earn his place in the first team.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are both doubts for the trip to the Vitality Stadium and their usual replacement, Leandro Trossard, is also facing a race against time to prove his fitness. It leaves Arteta short of options in the attacking midfield places, with Kai Havertz and Emile Smith Rowe likely to come into the side.

But Arteta could turn to Nelson to fill in on the flank after heaping praise on the 23-year-old’s potential. He was handed a start in the Carabao Cup in midweek and scored the only goal of the game as a much-changed Arsenal side scraped past Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Only last year, the Spaniard revealed that he and his coaches at Arsenal felt Nelson had something ‘special’ to unlock, and now might be the time to show their faith. Speaking in October 2022, Arteta said, as per The Mirror: “We think the potential is there and we think we’ve seen something in Reiss that is special.

READ MORE Arsenal could be about to secure back-up to Bukayo Saka after new contract[INSIGHT]

“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.”

Whether that was part of the charm offensive simply to get Nelson to sign a new contract or not remains to be seen. But having only featured for 589 minutes across all competitions last season, he is already making strides with 127 minutes of action in four outings in 2023-24.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

DON’T MISS
Arsenal icon David Seaman fires stern warning to Smith Rowe after transfer links[EXCLUSIVE]
Ivan Toney will see Arsenal as a ‘spiritual home’ as January transfer backed[TRANSFERS]
Carragher responds after Arsenal star Ramsdale’s dad called him a ‘disgrace'[REACTION]

Nelson made an impact last season scoring twice in a 5-0 demolition of Nottingham Forest and provided a 98th-minute winner and assist in an impressive cameo against Bournemouth, helping them complete an amazing late turnaround. When Arteta has turned to Nelson, he has delivered – and the winger is only happy to contribute when called upon.

“I feel like it has always been the same, he has always had the same blueprint in terms of what he wants to do it was just about getting the right players in to follow the same path,” Nelson said

“He has got a group of players now that would do anything for him, anything he says and if you have that as a manager, the things you want to do will come good as everyone is fighting and understands what you want.”

Now, with Saka, Martinelli and Trossard all potentially out, it is time for Nelson to prove he can cut it at the highest level week in, week out, rather than just sporadically. Arteta will be counting on it after singling him out for praise, with Manchester City and Liverpool still in their sights.

Arsenal’s new kit for 2023/2024 is a stylish twist on a classic as it reinvents that mid-1990s vibe. A truly modern-looking shirt with a homage to the past, the Nike kit also includes a nod to the club’s iconic Invincible’s side in the finer details while catching the eye with the lightning bolt motif

Source: Read Full Article