Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson wants Mikel Arteta to repeat Raheem Sterling transformation

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson wants new manager Mikel Arteta to repeat his transformation of Raheem Sterling as he bids to become a first-team star.

Nelson, 20, has shown flashes of his undoubted potential since returning from a loan spell with 1899 Hoffenheim in Germany in the summer.

He started three straight games over the festive period after the arrival of Mikel Arteta and is now set to be fit to play some part against Newcastle after the winter break.

Nelson is now looking to kick-on and make an impact as a key part of Arteta's new-look Arsenal regime.

And he believes the Spaniard, who worked closely with Raheem Sterling as Pep Guardiola's assistant boss at Manchester City , can help him achieve a similar transformation.

“It is crazy because you look at Sterling and Sane and you see them before at their previous teams, they weren’t doing what they do now,” Nelson told the Evening Standard .

“I think that is credit to Pep, of course, but Mikel as well because they said he did a lot of one-to-one work with them.

“You can see it because Mikel’s drive is different. I haven’t seen a manager with that much determination to make individuals into better players. I have all my belief in Mikel and I think he is going to make me into a top player.”

Nelson also recalled how he attempted to impress Arteta as a teenage academy prospect as the new manager started his coaching journey.

Nelson added: “There were times when I was 15 and he was doing his coaching badges that I used to get the ball and just run past everyone. That was one of my biggest traits.

“He used to manage that team, so he has probably seen glimpses of that. I wouldn’t say it was too easy back then, but now is a great time to have him as a manager because he understands what I am good at.

“Of course, he is going to give me the encouragement when I need it and if I am not doing the right stuff he is going to tell me.

“That’s what I really love, someone who gives me confidence, but then when I am doing the wrong thing, they tell me.

“I am working closely with Mikel and hopefully nailing down my spot in the Arsenal first team.”