‘Very clear’: Arsenal youngster says Mikel Arteta’s been telling him he’s improved so much in private meetings

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Mikel Arteta will be over the moon with how his young Arsenal side have started this season.

They sit top of the Premier League and are already through to the Europa League knockout stages.

One of Arteta’s young stars, Reiss Nelson, was speaking to the Evening Standard.

Nelson’s return to Premier League action was emphatic on Sunday, scoring a brace against Nottingham Forest.

It was his first league start for the Gunners since the opening day of the season last year against Brentford.

He had only scored one Premier League goal before the weekend, but tripled his tally in just four minutes.

Nelson was introduced after an injury to Bukayo Saka, and if the 21-year-old’s knock is worse than first feared, Nelson may get a run in first team.

And Nelson has shared that Arteta has been telling him privately that he’s improved a lot this year.

It might be one of the reasons why Arsenal were rejected loan bids for Nelson.

Arteta clearly saw that Nelson could be of use to Arsenal this season.

Arteta has told Nelson he’s improved so much

Nelson told the Evening Standard about the conversations he’s had with Arteta in private.

“I spoke with the boss before the start of the season and he was very clear with me,” Nelson said.

“He said he has seen a transition in my game and my attitude and just my whole profile as a player, which he really likes.

“And he wants to bring that into the team and he thinks that can really benefit the team, and there were no talks with me about leaving in the summer.”

A pre-season injury scuppered Nelson’s preparation for this campaign.

He’s been slowly reintroduced to action in the Europa League, and looks likely to play against FC Zurich on Thursday.

Nelson having the backing of Arteta is so important to his development at Arsenal, and being told he’s improved will certainly help.

Arsenal fans will be hoping Nelson uses Sunday’s fantastic performance to kick on.

He was once Arsenal’s most promising academy player, but hasn’t yet reached those heights.

Arteta looks willing to give him that opportunity, but it’s massively important Nelson continues to improve.