Arsenal: Reiss Nelson needs Mikel Arteta, not Arsene Wenger

Reiss Nelson is beginning to make strides under new head coach Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal youngster’s progression shows how he needs Arteta and his detailed instruction rather than Arsene Wenger’s freedom of expression.

Arsene Wenger was a brilliant manager. He revolutionised the modern game upon his arrival at Arsenal in 1996, implementing modern sports science, nutrition, tactics, continental scouting, and a conducting himself in with a cerebral self-awareness that previous, shouting-obsessed managers often lacked.

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But for all of his brilliance, especially in those early years, he did have flaws. And one of those was the freedom that he provided his players. For some, this room for expression was precisely what they needed to flourish. Wenger unlocked parts of the game that needed the capacity to grow and bloom. But in the increasingly detailed modern game, this hands-off approach stented the development of many young talents that required careful moulding and fine-tuning.

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One of the more recent examples was Reiss Nelson, who burst onto the scene with a series of fabulous preseason performances during the 2017 tour of Australia. Nelson had all of the natural qualities to become a bonafide star. He just needed direction. But under Wenger, he never got it. Wenger undoubtedly believed in his talent, but his managerial approach did not best suit Nelson.

As this profile by Jack Pitt-Brooke in The Athletic explains, Wenger’s distanced style stented Nelson and others in north London:

"“There have been a few very talented youngsters at Arsenal in recent years with a profile similar to Nelson. Talents who needed structure and guidance to make the most of their talent on the ball, and had to leave to fulfill their potential. Just look at Serge Gnabry, now starting for Bayern Munich. Or Jeff Reine-Adelaide, who moved from Angers to Lyon this summer for £23 million. Those two [Serge Gnabry and Jeff Reine-Adelaide], like plenty of the club’s best young players of the last generation, got to the Arsenal first team and then realised that there was not quite as much backing or instruction from Wenger as they were expecting. His detached, almost hands-off approach left their best youngsters wishing for more detailed guidance.”"

But Arsenal now have a very different head coach at the helm. Mikel Arteta, who played under Wenger and certainly would not have forgotten plenty of the good that the great Frenchman did, is a detailed, almost-intrusive, highly-strung, demanding coach who will provide heavy and significant input for his players.

It was noticeable how reminiscent of Pep Guardiola, Arteta’s former boss, and his impassioned coaching of Raheem Sterling that Arteta’s hugging and comforting of Nelson was after the draw to Bournemouth, Arteta’s first game at the helm. Nelson struggled in that outing, bar a bright opening 10 minutes, but started the next match against Chelsea and impressed, before then being named Man of the Match in the FA Cup victory over Leeds United on Monday night.

Even at this early stage, Nelson has — and still is — responded to Arteta’s coaching. He is willing to learn, working hard in training, per Arteta, and is eager to improve his overall play. And he recognises the work that Arteta conducted with Sterling, Leroy Sane and the other Manchester City attackers and understands that it could also revolutionise his own game.

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Nelson requires this detailed, intense input. He needs harsh but helpful instruction. Wenger would never have given it to him, but Arteta’s coaching revolves around it. And it might just see the version of Reiss Nelson as a result.

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