Arsenal’s 19-year-old starlet Alex Iwobi impressed during pre-season with his skillful displays, conviction and ability to take a man on with the ball.
Now, Iwobi is attempting to battle his way in to the first team, and he spoke to Arsenal Player about his upbringing into football, also discussing Chuba Akpom, who he cites as inspiration to become a better footballer.
Akpom, life-long friends with Iwobi, joined Hull City on loan recently, and has already scored his first goal for the Championship side – much improved on his previous loan spells, where he failed to score a single goal for Brentford, Coventry City and Nottingham Forest.
But now, Akpom is 19 and has already scored a hat-trick for Arsenal, but found that first team opportunities would be hard to come by, and decided to join Steve Bruce’s side in order to gain real experience and confidence.
Iwobi, discussing his friendship with Akpom, said: “I don’t remember when we first met because we go way back, since the age of four.
“I remember playing for a Sunday team together and it was basically us two and then the other team-mates would help, but we were the main players.
“We grew up together so we’ve been going through the same things, but also he’s been progressing more so I use him as an inspiration. He lets me know what he’s going through so that I can prepare for it. Watching him grow and become what he is right now is so good to see.”
The 19-year-old then went on to discuss fellow Arsenal teammates Jack Wilshere and Francis Coquelin, who have both been with the club since a young age and have both gone on to have success with the first team: “It’s clear for them to see that it’s possible.
“It shows that if you keep on working hard from a young age it’s possible to make it into the first team.
“[Arsenal’s academy is so successful because of] the training, the coaching, the staff, the facilities. I never say everything’s perfect but Arsenal’s training ground really is perfect.”
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