Arsenal’s forgotten man who could be Mikel Arteta’s secret weapon

Robin Bairner

• 8 Feb 2023 09:34 GMT
• 3 min read

Reiss Nelson could prove to be Arsenal’s secret weapon in the Premier League title race after coming back from a loan spell last season with a new, improved attitude.

The 23-year-old has been on Arsenal’s books since 2007, but despite being long considered one of the great academy prospects of the Emirates sides, he has made only 25 Premier League appearances.

Nelson has spent two years away from the Gunners - the 2018/19 season at Hoffenheim and the 2021/22 campaign at Feyenoord - and he says that his spell in the Netherlands finally helped him to appreciate the opportunity that he has in front of him.

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Feyenoord loan changed everything for Nelson

Speaking to The Athletic, he revealed a conversation that he had with manager Mikel Arteta last summer.

“He said he saw a very good change in my mentality and how I approach things. He said it was never my football ability, it was just he felt sometimes I could be — not immature — but I didn’t understand the opportunity I had in front of me. I had to learn at Feyenoord (on loan in the Netherlands last season) and he wants me to carry it into Arsenal,” he revealed.

Following a thigh injury in a December friendly against Juventus, Nelson is close to action and will expect to get more action upon his return.

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Immediately before the World Cup break, during which he sustained his injury, he was gradually earning more game time. After scoring twice and creating another at Nottingham Forest in one of only two Premier League appearances so far this season, he grabbed an assist against Brighton in an EFL Cup defeat and played the full 90 minutes against FC Zurich in the Europa League.

Nelson may be a forgotten face at Arsenal for the moment, but he could be pivotal in the second half of the season.