MX23RW : Monday, December 30 11:55:11| >> :120:10544:10544:

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta lavishes praise on Reiss Nelson

Reiss Nelson was a stand-out against Molde.

Reiss Nelson is hoping his Europa League form will earn him a run in Arsenal's Premier League side after he helped the Gunners ease into the knockout stages with a win at Molde.

The 20-year-old scored the second in a 3-0 victory in Norway to make it four wins from four in Group B for Arsenal.

Nicolas Pepe broke the deadlock as he made amends for his red card at Leeds on Sunday while teenage striker Folarin Balogun netted his first senior goal just 37 seconds after coming off the bench.

The result means Arsenal are through to the round of 32 and can assure themselves top-spot in Group B with a positive result at home to Rapid Vienna next week – a game which will see 2,000 supporters return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time in nine months.

Nelson scored his first European goal for Arsenal during the win over Molde.
Nelson scored his first European goal for Arsenal during the win over Molde. (Svein Ove Ekornesvag/AP)

Nelson is likely to feature in that game but will also have an eye on the Premier League visit of Wolves on Sunday.

The England Under-21 international has played just 45 minutes of league football this season and has not started in the competition since scoring in a win over champions Liverpool in July.

But he is looking to the example set by fellow academy graduate Joe Willock – whose performances in Europe saw him rewarded with a start in the draw at Leeds – as manager Mikel Arteta must decide who replaces the suspended Pepe this weekend.

Asked if the Europa League is a competition that can make Arteta take notice, Nelson replied: "Of course.

"Joe is in excellent form and it just shows that if you do your business on the pitch the manager is not afraid to throw you in like he has with Joe and with everyone else.

"You see young Balogun got a goal as well and it is nice to see young prospects coming through and getting the goals."

Arteta praised Nelson last month for opting against leaving the club on loan during the transfer window and deciding to fight for his place at Arsenal.

Nelson has also started impressing the Spaniard with his determination to learn how to improve.

"He is so willing, he is asking for more all the time," Arteta said.

"He wants individual meetings, he wants to work on the pitch in certain aspects that we can believe he can improve.

"He is training really, really well and physically he has developed as well. He had a click.

"We needed that click and now it is up to him. His last performances have been really good."

Arteta (left) has been impressed with Nelson's willingness to learn.
Arteta (left) has been impressed with Nelson's willingness to learn. (Mark Kerton/PA)

Nelson's first European goal for the club could see him come into the team against Wolves, with Arsenal going 476 minutes without scoring from open play in the Premier League.

That is at odds with their Europa League form, having hit 12 goals in their four wins, and Nelson is keen for that sort of record to be carried into other competitions.

"We are through now so it is a pat on the back for us and the hard work continues," he added.

"We keep going with the young players and the seniors to keep playing well, scoring goals and winning more games."

ID:424014: cacheID:424014:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:14221:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho shouts during his side's Premier League clash with West Ham United on October 18, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 10 predictions including Chelsea vs. Tottenham Hotspur
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea18105338211735
5Manchester CityMan City199463226631
6Bournemouth198652923630
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle188553021929
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa188462629-328
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton186842726126
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd186482124-322
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
19Ipswich TownIpswich1826101633-1712
20Southampton1913151239-276


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!