Arsenal matchwinner Reiss Nelson is "asking the right questions" to earn himself a regular slot in the team, says Mikel Arteta.
Nelson scored the only goal as the Gunners beat Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup third round at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
Marcelo Bielsa's visitors had dominated for large periods of the first half in north London, but Nelson's scuffed finish earned the hosts a victory and a trip to Bournemouth in the fourth round.
"I am very pleased with him, how he’s training, how he’s reacting, how willing he is to learn," said Arteta when asked about Nelson at full-time, via Arsenal.com .
"He’s asking the right questions, I know about his ability, I’ve known him since I was here and I coached him when he was 16. I know his potential and now he needs to put things away.
"I am really, really pleased with Reiss, I think he needed that goal as well for his confidence, I think he needs to improve his end product a little bit in the final third, but he’s doing all the right things."
Despite his happiness with Nelson, Arteta admitted he was angry with his players for their first half display.
"I wasn't happy at all," he said .
"The first 30 to 35 minutes, how we started the game, how we approached the game... I tried to convince them before the game of what to expect of that team.
"They battered every team in the Championship, every three days. The way they play makes it really difficult and uncomfortable.
"Everything is man-to-man around the pitch, so it becomes a transition game where everything is duels, everything is 50:50. If you're not ready for that game you get exposed and you get done. Obviously, the second half was a different story."
