Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was immediately taken by the south London-born player’s talent during sessions with the academy during his playing days at the club. But having returned to the club last month, he found a 20-year-old who had lost his way a little after a spell at Hoffenheim that ended with him dropped from the side for a period in March for “disciplinary reasons”.
Memorably, after his first game in charge at Bournemouth, Arteta singled Nelson out for an intense one-on-one Guadiola-style “chat” on the final whistle.
Arteta got right in Nelson’s face and held either side of his head.
The response has been spectacular, with improved performances including the winning goal against Leeds in the FA Cup.
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“If he wants to play for this club every three days when you have to step in there you have to be almost perfect. At the moment I see this kind of attitude and desire.
“He has done that very quickly, much quicker than I thought and that is why he has been playing.
“I put him out to play and I trust him because he wants it and I think he can deliver.”
Certainly, ahead of Arsenal’s home game with Sheffield United, Arteta’s work with Sterling should be a mouth-watering yardstick for Gunners fans.
“I wouldn’t like to compare them,” Arteta sais. “What I will say is that Reiss has the potential to do whatever he wants.
“If he wants to do it, wants to lean and wants to challenge himself he can be a top, top player for this football club.
“He needs to deal with pressure, deliver every three days, score more goals and make the difference more for the team because he has the quality to do that.”