Arsene Wenger says he knew immediately that Alex Iwobi could make it at Arsenal but admits the 20-year-old isn’t the type of player who immediately exudes star quality.
The attacking midfielder, nephew of the legendary Nigerian international Jay-Jay Okocha, rose to prominence at the tail end of last season making 21 appearances and has maintained momentum this term, featuring three times in the Gunners opening five Premier League games.
Reflecting on Iwobi’s rise through the ranks of the Arsenal Academy, Wenger told Arsenal Player:
“[I knew] when I took him in training a few times. He is not the kind of player who impresses you at first. But when you look a bit deeper he is quick at connecting with other players. Quick analysis.
“Football is perception, decision-making and acting. The perception especially struck me. The perception he has of the game and the speed of his decision-making struck me.
“When you look at him at first there is nothing special there. But after when you look he is always connecting with others at a very high level and a very high pace. That’s why I think he is improving.
“He has still a lot of work to do but he has something that is very important at the top level. Speed and an understanding of the game.”
Iwobi looks likely to feature in this afternoon’s showdown with Chelsea. A match that pits the Gunners against Diego Costa; a player who appears to have a hoodoo over the Gunners, much like predecessor Didier Drogba.
The striker was at the heart of the controversy when the two sides met last season, inciting Gabriel to a red card – later rescinded – with behaviour that earned the Spaniard a ban and also getting Per Mertesacker sent off in the return leg at the Emirates.
Looking back on the damage done by Costa, Wenger told press on Friday: “Costa is similar to Drogba because he’s a top-quality player.
“I cannot put to Costa the fact that we got caught last year. It’s the tandem more – Fabregas, Costa who was very dangerous for us. Fabregas found him quickly with his runs.
“The first incident we were a bit guilty to react, the second we were caught tactically. Mertesacker after had only the opportunity to try to tackle. He got rightly sent off. But Costa is a quality player.”
He added: “I never thought he would leave Atletico Madrid at the time. I was surprised. Of course, I like him as a player. I like the qualities of the player. All the rest around is not needed. He’s a very strong player. He looks since the start of the season to have cleaned up his act, that he behaves more focused on the game. And that makes him more dangerous.”
Wenger is a consumate gentleman, but the subtext is basically “look, he can score goals but we all know he’s a fucking cunt”.
Though he did go on to say that he would have bought him if he knew he was available.
“I never thought he would leave Atlético Madrid at the time, I was surprised,” said the Frenchman.
“Would I have made a harder play for him had I known? Yes. I like him, as a quality striker.”
I guess we need more focussed players.
If we had signed him we would have stopped him from being a cock. Mourinho encourages it.
Lol. You are obviously not a consummate gentleman
Odd that Wenger has twice now said he didn’t know a striker was for sale but would have bought them if they were (Costa and Martial). Surely all players are for sale at the right price. Athletic didn’t want to let Costa go because he is a top striker but once a big bid comes in and this unsettles the player then you make things happen. These top players very rarely drop into your lap like Ozil did for us. You have to go out there and make aggressive bids and hope to unsettle their player. Some players might not… Read more »
Spot on. Not sure why all the downvotes. Absolutely need to be more proactive/aggressive in the transfer market.
Weve missed out on a few players and rarely ever make bids for the best players regardless o how unlikely it seems well actually get them.
Griesman is not that great, not yet. Caught the eye of many a Gooner because of Vela. The fact that Wenger would have been tempted then, has a lot to do with the interest in the player back then, and where he is at now. The move Lukas made coming to us, is a far bigger jump than Griesman took, going to Atletico. A fit Walcot will outperform Griesman this season, would say the same about Sanches and Iwobi, and if Lucas is half the player Griesman is, then he will , or should do the same, playing in front… Read more »
Encouraging words for Iwobi, designed to keep his feet on the ground! Good work with the kids.
The production line is the key thing which keeps a team stable imo, over along period of time.
Speaking of growers, Iwobi is bloody huge and strong for his age.
That must be because he doesn’t shower… or did I read the headline wrong… 😀
Such excitement! Just watch him grow.
I often forget Iwobi is so young when I see him play. Such a great player with so much potential.
As for Costa, I wouldn’t have said no to him in 2014, as long as we still would have been able to bring Alexis to the club as well.
I prefer Balo’s antics to Costa’s thuggery.
Costa was a cunt at Atl. Madrid; it’s part of his game- he’ll always be a cunt.
Costa still remains a cunt!
Granit will break his face. Hopefully in the dying seconds of the game. Getting a yellow to avoid any restrospective punishment while securing a 2nd yellow for Costa and serenading him with a “keep your trap shut” goal celebration as he heads up the tunnel.
Costa is no doubt a great player, But he is also a World Class Cunt.
So true about Iwobi, from the first time he really got to play with the 1st team you could tell he was well beyond his years in terms of vision, decision making, speed of thought/play, etc.. I don’t know ultimately what his best position will be, but he is so versatile already can play all over the midfield.
Wenger loves a player with a bit of an edge. Adams, Dennis, Paddy, Jens, RvP, Cesc, Alexis. Strange that they were so lacking/misplaced during The Lean Years. They lend teams an intangible quality which drives other players, makes them fight. Glad to see Xhaka and Perez who seem on that track too.
We’ve had a few of them but they all got red cards…
How cam you not list keown and parlour????
Costa’s clearing up of his act only happened this year. Makes you think, his much of him having been an out-of-control rabid dog, was down to managers who didn’t want to curb that part of him, or actively encouraged him to continue behaving so. Simeone is a manager that wants his team to be aggressive and in the other’s face. So also Jose, who himself is a despicable human and has no depths that he won’t condone plunging to, to eke out a victory, whatever the means.
“Jose, who himself is a despicable human”
Boom xhaka and fuck costa
Wenger never one to call out a player. Except if you are Van Nistelrooy that f*cking cheat of a player.
He did kind of call out Scholes on his retirement..great player but shud.ve had a ton of red cards
Did anyone else read this title as shower as in “take a shower”?
Iwobi is a player of great promise. He has certainly made Arsenal more mobile and dangerous in the final third of the pitch.