Jeff Stelling reckons Arsenal might have sold the most underrated player in the Premier League

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Jeff Stelling thinks Unai Emery sold a player at Arsenal who has since become one of the most underrated in the Premier League.

Emery’s tenure at Arsenal lasted 18 months before the Spaniard was dismissed and eventually replaced by Mikel Arteta.

Arteta has transformed Arsenal since becoming manager, crafting a different standard of squad from those that had been seen prior.

One thing the boss has improved is how many young players have progressed from Hale End to the first team.

Arteta’s first Arsenal XI featured academy graduates Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson, but sadly, he was denied the chance to work with another product of Hale End. 

Jeff Stelling thinks Alex Iwobi is one of the most underrated players in the Premier League

In August 2019, Arsenal sold Alex Iwobi to Everton, who has since gone on to sign for Fulham.

Iwobi didn’t expect to leave Arsenal when he did, but Emery sanctioned the move, and his Premier League adventure outside of the comforts of the Emirates commenced.

Ever since, the Nigerian has hit a new level, with Jeff Stelling now having reason to believe that the midfielder is top of the charts in one area.

As featured on the talkSPORT Daily podcast, Stelling nominated Iwobi as one of the most underrated players in the league right now. 

“I know you don’t often appreciate some players actually till they’ve finished playing, but I was watching Fulham against Brentford, and Alex Iwobi scored a goal, and he produced an absolutely brilliant assist. And I thought, Alex Iwobi goes under the radar to such an incredible degree.”

Stelling went on to say that he’s always impressed by Iwobi when watching him in action.

“I mean, every week when I see him, he’s a seven or even an eight out of ten. Every single week. And I wonder if he is the most underrated player in the Premier League.”

It’s been a searing start to the season for the former Gunner, who already has three goal contributions to his name in only five Premier League appearances.  

Iwobi’s Premier League record before and after leaving Arsenal 

Several former Arsenal players represent Fulham, and Iwobi wanted to increase the number in the summer.

Iwobi tried to convince Reiss Nelson to join Fulham again, following on from the winger’s loan spell at Craven Cottage last season.

Having seen what Iwobi has been doing since leaving Arsenal, there’s an incentive there for others who were in his position to follow.

The Nigerian reached a milestone before leaving by recording 100 Premier League appearances for his boyhood club. 

Since then, he’s recorded another 196 appearances in the English top flight, hitting his best goal contribution tally last season with nine goals and six assists.

Iwobi has gone from strength to strength since being sold by Arsenal, showing that sometimes, the grass is greener.