Arsenal’s rising star Alex Iwobi has been grabbing the limelight with his dazzling performances in a red and white shirt. The 20-year-old is keeping the likes of Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain on the bench and has flourished after Wenger put his trust in the youngster.
He got his first taste of first team football last season when Arsenal were going through a slump and Wenger needed to change something around. He decided to give young Iwobi a chance in the first team.
He made an instant impact with the team and settled in very quickly into the style of play. Iwobi brought in new energy and that passed on to his teammates as the Gunners started to improve and get back on track in the league.
In 13 appearances, he scored twice and got two assists, which is not bad considering he still has a long way to go. Iwobi has also started this season brightly. In his 5 appearances so far he's registered two assists.
In an interview with Copa90, Iwobi spoke about the one player he would want at Arsenal right now. He replied, “Neymar, he’s entertaining. But then again, if we bring in Neymar, that’s my position gone.”
Neymar plays in the same position as Iwobi, on the left wing. The Brazilian is one of the best players on the planet and is playing for one of the best clubs in the world. So luring him to Arsenal would be quite a feat.
With Leo Messi currently out injured, the impetus is on the trickster to deliver. It would take something spectacular for Arsenal to sign the Brazilian.
My best moment was playing against Barcelona : Iwobi
Iwobi also had the chance to play Barcelona last season in the Champions League where he put up a good showing. The Nigerian faced off against one of his favourite players as Arsenal were once again knocked out from the competition.
But he felt it was a special moment in his career. “My best moment was definitely starting against Barcelona, that was mad. It was such an experience. I’m young, it was my first proper start. I wasn’t even nervous, just excited to play.”
“Obviously it’s a nice feeling [Arsene Wenger trusts me], it gives you an extra confidence boost. To play in a game of such magnitude, I was buzzing. The fact that I kept playing a couple of games afterwards showed that he had faith in me.”
‘I take advice from my uncle’
Iwobi is lucky enough to have someone in his family who was also successful at the highest level. He is the nephew of Jay-Jay Okocha and the youngster revealed he takes advice from him as often as possible.
“Growing up I got advice with football, but the older I get [Okocha’s] probably helped off the pitch as well.As football’s such a short career, he’s trying to make sure that I’m going to end up being like him, where he’s comfy when he’s retired. I want to be as good as him, or even better than him.”
If Iwobi keeps up this level of performance, he will certainly go on to do great things.
