‘Like a yo-yo’: Reiss Nelson reveals what Mikel Arteta had him doing just before

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Reiss Nelson was the hero of the hour as Arsenal hammered Nottingham Forest to go back top of the Premier League today.

Nelson was brought on to replace the injured Bukayo Saka. It was a surprise call from Mikel Arteta, who has barely used the 22-year-old since he arrived at Arsenal.

However, Nelson repaid the faith. He scored twice and set up another in a fine performance. And speaking about his entry into the game, Nelson revealed that Arteta had him up and down off the bench warming up before deciding to throw him on for Saka.

“When I went to warm-up I was thinking ‘I’m just going to warm-up and then maybe come back down again’, but he said ‘OK maybe warm-up for a bit longer’, and I kept warming up and I came back down, warmed-up again.

“So I kept going up like a yo-yo, and then he said ‘Reiss you’re coming on’. I was just like ‘oh wow’. But I knew it was on of those – it was my moment, so I had to seize it you know. So I’m just happy and delighted that I could get on and just help the team,” Nelson told Arsenal’s official channels.

TBR’s View: Reiss Nelson deserves his Arsenal moment after long warm up

It must have felt surreal for Nelson to get the call here. He’s been out of the Premier League picture for so long and his reaction here suggests he didn’t think he’d see much game time today.

In the end, it all worked out well and Nelson delivered the goods for Arsenal. He speaks about it being a moment for him and he certainly did his best to make it one.

If Reiss Nelson can contribute like this for the rest of the season, then Arsenal will feel like they have a new signing.