If there has been a positive for Arsenal fans in the second half of this season, it’s the rise to prominence of Alex Iwobi.
The Nigerian international, who turned 20 yesterday, has come from nowhere to secure a regular place in Arsene Wenger’s midfield.
While a cloud hangs over the future of several first team members – it’s tough right now to tell if Joel Campbell, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott will be here next year, while veterans Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky look certain to depart – it looks as though Iwobi could have an important part to play at the Emirates in years to come.
The best thing? He has Arsenal DNA.
“I have always loved Arsenal,” Iwobi told Arsenal Player. “When I was young, I was always waiting to watch the legends of the club play. You could say I have the blood of Arsenal in me!
“I have seen the picture of me [signing as child] in the yellow top. I remember signing – that moment was crazy, I remember smiling so much. My mum and dad were proud of me and they were there waiting for me.
“It has been a bumpy ride [since then]. It has been a rollercoaster with a lot of ups and a few downs that I have had to get over in the past. Certainly now there are a lot more positives in my career.
“As a youngster, the main thing for me was confidence. I would always be in the background and I wouldn’t take the game or be who I am right now. I always relied on other people, but I think having my family and friends around me gave me a bit more confidence and they told me what I needed to work on.
“Once I worked on that, I was able to overcome it and thank God get the contract which was good enough for me.
“It is all good to have the ability, to be able to play football and be the best, but how you are as a person is also key. To keep trying to be your best, to keep working hard and be humble with it, that is the key to making it as a footballer.”
One man who knows what it takes to make the successful transition from Academy starlet to first team regular *cough* is Jack Wilshere. Speaking about Iwobi’s progress this campaign, the England international noted that the attacker always showed flashes of potential when he trained with the big boys.
“I really like him as a player,” Wilshere told Arsenal Player. “I watched him in the FA Youth Cup last year and you could always tell there was something special about him.
“He used to train with us quite a lot. He was young, so he never really got a look in when he came over, but you could tell he had something special and he has really matured.
“If you ask anyone, it looks like he has been in the team for a number of years. He is confident, technically he is great, he fits in and physically he doesn’t look like a 20-year-old.
“I think the boss has done really well with him because he brought him in, brought him out and then put him into the team.
“You have to give credit to the boss as well because, at a club like Arsenal, you are looking to win things, finish top four, get Champions League, win competitions, and to play a 19-year-old and keep your faith in him week in, week out… [Iwobi] has repaid him well.”
My Nigerian brothahhh!!
I do enjoy his frequent nutmegs.
Great potential, hope it’s realised with us. Without looking too far ahead, but potentially a lot of movement in the squad. Just strikes me as tough, being as it’s Euros year…hopefully AW is commentating for French tv….and taps up Griezmann and the like 😉
Huge potential if he is managed correctly. Wilshire, Walcott, Ox, Ramsey and possibly a few others have been mismanaged IMO. To the point where they are injured more than I’ve seen them play well. Form and confidence come with being injury free for a sustained amount of time.
Mismanaged in the sense that they’ve been given every possible chance to fulfill their potential? If anything if they were managed by a different manager then they wouldn’t even be playing to their current levels
Arsenal DNA is one reason why I would bring back jenks. There is a lot to be said for a player with “LOWER SKILL” but passion and run for the cause.
Still a bit annoyed we shipped Lansbury out
The other half supports Forest and he’s quite glad we did.
Sorry to be off topic, but the new full screen ads on this page are horrible.
Iwobi’s great though!
Sorry – which full page ad? We don’t allow any of that. Can you give me more information and I’ll make sure it’s blocked.
A mobile phone user issue maybe? Certainly the BMW ad on this page takes more than my whole screen
Happy May the Fourth.
Help us, Obi Wan Iwobi, you’re our only hope.
The pleasure in the emergence of Iwobi has been offset for me by Wenger’s disgraceful treatment of Campbell.
On another note, how sickening has the media sentimentality been over the Leicester title win? Impossible to like the club after the orgy fiasco and when there’s a racist like Vardy on the books. Of course this has been buried now for the big-selling feel good story.
How do you know it has been ‘disgraceful’? I was actually wondering if there has been more going on there than meets the eye. Perhaps he’s I’ll, injured or homesick? Perhaps a family member is ill?
No problem with ads here on ye olde iPhone 5. Just little rectangles of houses.
Up the Iwobi. Full time left winger?. I certainly hope so.
If legends were made of DNAs alone frimpong would have a statue
I hope he will learn from his Uncle jay jay Okocha pround he represent Nigeria 🙂 Nigerianblood
The progression of Iwobi into the Gunners line-up is the only positive from this season. The key for him now is to be consistent every game.
Joel Campbell needs to be retained, surely….!!
Iwobi and JC would form a great partnership
Wenger has been absolute rubbish.
The fans bought Campbell, Coquelin, Iwobi and Bellerin.
The gaffer said Dick Law was wasting his time in the Costa Rican jungle because Joel will never be Arsenal material.
And he said Coquelin should get out while he could.
He also preferred the more limited Jenkinson because of his lack of technical skills and ability to cross the ball into the box blind than Bellerin.
Or Iwobi.
Wenger is completely clueless.
Watch out for The Jeff, Zelalem and Gnabry too!
I just don’t u defeat do how little mention does Jon Toral get. Yes his season ended prematurely with injury but, he had by far the best loan spell and he looks to be a cross between cazorla and arteta, really hoping he gets a chance next season