Mikel Arteta has praised Reiss Nelson after seeing the winger make a huge impact off the bench for Arsenal against Bournemouth.
The Gunners were in real danger of slipping up just hours after Manchester City beat Newcastle United 2-0.
Bournemouth had taken a 2-0 lead and it looked like it just wasn’t going to be Arsenal’s day.
Arteta’s men launched a staggering comeback though with Thomas Partey and Ben White levelling it up at 2-2.
The seconds were ticking away and Arsenal needed a hero deep into injury time.
Step forward Reiss Nelson.
The Arsenal substitute arrowed a left-footed strike into the net to spark absolutely wild scenes at the Emirates Stadium.
That leaves Arsenal five points clear of City having again shown the fight and resolve to become champions.
Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal substitue Reiss Nelson
If Arsenal fans could pick this moment for any Gunners player, Nelson may be high up on the list.
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Long touted for stardom at Arsenal, Nelson hasn’t quite lived up to his potential.
This was only Nelson’s third Premier League appearance of the season and in truth, many expected a summer exit.
Nelson is out of contract this summer and may well leave Arsenal.
Yet the 23-year-old offered a great reminder of his quality with this winning goal and it will have meant so much to a Hale End academy product.
Arsenal boss Arteta has now moved to praise Nelson, telling Football London that the winger is now ‘at a different level’ than before.
Arteta claims he always saw the talent in Nelson’s locker but now things he has really developed and is showing that Arsenal need him moving forward.
“I always saw the talent but he’s at a different level. It’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and he can be really important for the team,” he added.
Given injuries to Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Jesus and now Leandro Trossard, maybe Nelson will emerge as an unlikely hero in Arsenal’s push for the Premier League title.
In other news, Everton wanted ‘absolutely fantastic’ player before Liverpool transfer
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