Mesut Ozil was very impressed with Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson after their incredible 3-2 win over Bournemouth yesterday.
After a disastrous start to the game, the Gunners produced one of the most dramatic finishes in the Premier League this season.
Reiss Nelson was the hero at The Emirates, and posted on Instagram to celebrate scoring with the last kick of the game.
He was brought on with 20 minutes left to play and Arsenal still a goal behind.
However, he had an assist to his name moments after entering the field, setting up Ben White’s first Arsenal goal.
The £38k-a-week winger had a couple of chances in the final moments of the game, and caused Bournemouth’s defenders plenty of problems.
He had to wait until the 97th minute to finally find the back of the net.
After a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, Nelson took a touch out of his feet and rifled the ball into the far corner.
Pandemonium erupted in the stadium, and substitutes and coaching staff alike rushed onto the pitch to celebrate with the 23-year-old.
Mesut Ozil is still clearly keeping a close eye on Arsenal, and Nelson, who he played with on eight occasions at The Emirates.
The Gunners took another step in the right direction as they continue their incredible title challenge.
Ozil congratulates Nelson on Arsenal goal
Posting on Instagram after full-time, Nelson said, ‘Never stop believing’ after his surprisingly calm celebration.
Arsenal players past and present rushed to congratulate Nelson, including Ozil, who simply said, ‘Bravo’.
Mesut Ozil congratulates Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson. Cr. (reissnelson) © 2023 INSTAGRAM FROM META.
Mesut Ozil congratulates Arsenal forward Reiss Nelson. Cr. (reissnelson) © 2023 INSTAGRAM FROM META.
After the match, Fabrizio Romano shared an update on Nelson’s Arsenal future.
The 23-year-old has been a bit-part player all season, but also had a dramatic introduction against Nottingham Forest earlier in the season.
Arteta has recently talked up Nelson’s abilities, and suggested he could be a ‘big player’ for the club.
He’s still quite far down the pecking order, not aided by the arrival of Leandro Trossard in January.
Arteta will be over the moon that his entire squad is contributing this season.
Nelson showed that the Gunners’ squad depth might not be as much of a concern as first thought.
Mikel Arteta explains why he brought on Reiss Nelson for Emile Smith Rowe in dramatic Arsenal win
Mikel Arteta played down fears Emile Smith Rowe suffered a fresh injury setback during Arsenal’s dramatic comeback win over Bournemouth.
Arsenal produced an astonishing comeback to record a vital win against Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
The England international has endured a frustrating season but is now in a position to make a significant contribution during the run-in having hardly featured in the Premier League so far this term.
An injury to Leandro Trossard provided the gifted forward with an opportunity midway through the first half but he was taken off shortly after he had helped create a route back into the game with the assist for Thomas Partey’s goal.
Reiss Nelson replaced his fellow academy graduate having himself not featured for the first team since the final game before the World Cup break
Explaining the change, Arteta said: ‘Obviously we didn’t’ plan to throw him in so early in the game.
‘We knew that obviously it was difficult for him to last 70 minutes on the field after missing five months almost of football.
‘But I felt he had a good impact in the game but I felt we needed something else, especially on the left because we were lacking threat and attracting more players on that side and that’s why we made the decision.’
Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe played key roles in Arsenal’s win over Bournemouth (Picture: Getty)
That said, Arteta was hardly filled with confidence when the ball dropped to Nelson’s weaker left foot with the clock about to hit 97 minutes.
He added: ‘We put him in the training ground and 50 times put him there I don’t know if he’ll score. But he did it in the perfect moment for the team, the perfect moment for himself and he fully deserved that the kid.
‘I always saw the potential, the talent and the desire for him to do it, but he’s at a different level right now. I think emotionally, the experiences that he had helped him.
‘Football-wise, it was my decision in the last two games not to play him because we had other options.
‘But he was knocking on the door, he’s been training really good and it’s a good lesson for me and for the coaches that we need him and that he can be really important for the team.’
