MIKEL ARTETA is set to wield a big stick to keep Reiss Nelson on his toes.
The new Arsenal boss has monitored Nelson’s progress since he helped train Arsene Wenger’s youth team during his final season as a player.
Mikel Arteta admits he was expecting more from hot talent Reiss Nelson
New Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta says he is ready to use more of the stick approach if it helps Reiss Nelson fulfil his huge potential
And he is making it clear to the winger that he will crack down if any complacency creeps back into his game.
Nelson, 20, is in line to replace the suspended Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Arsenal’s next three games, starting against Sheffield United this afternoon.
And Arteta will be keeping a close eye on a player who lost his way on loan at Hoffenheim last season.
He said: “I know Reiss well — straightaway he caught my eye.
“He is a boy that is willing to learn and loves the game.
“But I think he has been a bit confused in the last few years with some of the decisions he has made and the direction he has taken.
‘NOW I TRUST HIM’
“He needs guidance and a little bit of the stick and he is up for that.
“It was the right move for him to go on loan last season but I was expecting a little more from him and he needs to take responsibility for that.
“Because he was that good when he was young, everything was too easy for him.
“Now the picture for Reiss is very clear. He has made the changes much quicker than I thought he would and that is why he has been playing.
“If he wants to play for this club every three days he has to be almost perfect from the moment he steps in.
“At the moment I see the right attitude and desire. He knows what he wants, he knows what we want and now I trust him and think he can deliver.”
Reiss Nelson, seen scoring against Leeds in the FA Cup, has made faster progress than even big admirer Mikel Arteta imagined he wouldCredit: Getty – Contributor
Nelson was best friends with Jadon Sancho growing up and both set the Bundesliga alight at the start of last season, Sancho with Borussia Dortmund.
But then Nelson had injuries at Hoffenheim and was left out because of poor time-keeping.
Yet Arteta is confident he can keep the young prodigy on the straight and narrow.
He said: “He has the potential to do whatever he wants.
“If he wants to learn and to challenge himself, he can become a top, top player for this club.
“He is on the right path with the right attitude but there are still a lot of factors to deal with.
“He needs to cope with pressure, score more goals and make the difference more because he has the quality to do that.”
Arteta is concerned by the absence of Aubameyang, who has scored 14 of Arsenal’s 29 league goals this season.
He added: “When Auba is scoring goals it means his team-mates are contributing by helping him get into the positions.
“Scoring that many goals is a big challenge to put on one player but that’s been the reality here in the last few years. We need to modify that.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
