Alex Iwobi credits ‘amazing’ Arsenal legend for doing one thing to help his career

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Arsenal are preparing to welcome a former Hale End star to the Emirates Stadium in their latest Premier League clash.

Oliver Glasner has praised Eddie Nketiah for his hard work this season as the former Arsenal striker is set to return face his old club.

Nketiah could hand Liverpool the title should the Gunners lose at home to Crystal Palace, meaning Arne Slot’s side would be crowned English champions for the 19th time.

Another former Hale End star in Alex Iwobi has been discussing his upbringing in the Gunners academy and has singled out one Arsenal legend for helping him develop into a Premier League star.

READ MORE: Alan Shearer names the one Arsenal player who is so strong that ‘his legs are like tree trunks’

Alex Iwobi praises ‘amazing’ Arsene Wenger

Speaking to Sky Sports on an episode of their ‘Sticker Book’ challenge, Iwobi has discussed the influence that his former manager Arsene Wenger had on his career.

Iwobi stated: “[He was] amazing. For young players coming through, he always gave them an opportunity to train, and if you’re good enough, you’re on the bench and get a chance to play and he always spoke to the youngsters, he always said believe in yourself and gave me the confidence to go and express myself.”

The 28-year-old midfielder has been in excellent form this season for Fulham alongside another former Gunner Emile Smith-Rowe and has scored nine goals in his 33 league appearances.

He was also asked about the styles of Wenger and another former manager Carlo Ancelotti and the Nigeria international had some interesting comparisons.

Iwobi explained: “Similar in the sense where they [Wenger and Ancelotti] don’t really get angry, they’re very patient, they’re both men of few words, but when they walk in the room, it’s silent, that aura was crazy.”

Alex Iwobi’s Arsenal career

Iwobi was a key player in Wenger’s side upon breaking into the first team and linked up well with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

However, in 2019, he was sold by former boss Unai Emery to Everton for a fee of £35m before eventually making the switch to current club Fulham.

Often critics would suggest Iwobi’s end product was inconsistent during his time in North London and may have been a reason why Emery decided to part with him.

However, this season he has proven that he has an eye for goal and with 14 goal contributions in the Premier League alone, he is fulfilling that promise he showed from a young age.