By Daily Sports on October 25, 2018

When Arsenal's new head coach Unai Emery came on board many big changes were expected in the club. Among such changes was the the expected shuffling of the playing personel of the team. 

One name some feared for was Nigerian international Alex Iwobi.

Having risen from the ranks at Arsenal from his preteen years to featuring for the seniors side in the last few seasons, it was fair to argue that midfielder Iwobi hadn't convinced enough to survive a serious shake up of the team under a new coach.

Iwobi had been largely inconsistent during the Wenger years and looked especially and frustatingly goal shy in many games.

Though his skill set was never in doubt, Iwobi struggled to cement himself firmly in the hearts of Gunners fans owing to his inconsistency and many Arsenal supporters expressed their wish to see the back of the nephew of the great retired Nigeria midfield maestro Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha from Arsenal.

But some how Emery has kept the faith with Iwobi. Having gone through a gruelling preseason under the Spaniard, Iwobi was able to convince his new coach that he could be relied upon this season and so far his performances in the premier league where he has become more of a regular in the first team of the Gunners have been electrifying.

Today, per the Daily Star newspaper, many Arsenal fans are comparing Iwobi to Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi. How things change.

The same fans who wanted Iwobi to be shown the door at Arsenal are now comparing him to one of the greatest players that has ever lived.

The comparison peaked after Iwobi won the 'match of the match' award following his top class display in Arsenal's 3-1 mauling of Leicester City on Monday night, which included an audacious control of a lofted ball in the air and a nutmeg of a Leicester player in the space of seconds.

Following the match, YouTube channel AFTV spoke to those leaving the ground about their thoughts on the 22-year-old.

And they may have got a bit carried away.

"Don't call him Alex Iwobi anymore, he is the Nigerian Lionel Messi," one claimed.

Before adding: "Emery has brought such a freshness to the side.

"He came in and lost the first two games, but that feels so long ago now."

Since the clip was uploaded last night, it has already racked up more than 90,000 hits.

"I think you mean Messi is the Argentinian Iwobi," one viewer claimed.

Another added: "Iwobi doing things so right! Last season he'd make such brain-dead decisions but this season I'm shouting for him to receive it!"

And a third claimed: "Iwobi is definitely a candidate for Young Player of The Season!".

All these praise notwhitstanding, Iwobi must not be distracted and must continue to work with fresh hunger to continue to ascend in the game.

The Messis and Ronaldos of football don't overindulge in praises surrounding them and they achieve their greatness by quickly switching on to the next challenge after a particular achievement. This should be the way to go for Iwobi and any young player hoping to be a true great.

Tomori to try to take adantage of Chelsea's classy gesture 

Per West London Sport newspaper, "Chelsea have given permission for Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori to play against them for Derby in the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie.

The Blues youngsters are on season-long loans at Pride Park, where former Chelsea star Frank Lampard took over as manager in the summer.

They are eligible to play for Derby in the competition but Chelsea’s permission was needed for them to appear in next week’s game after the two clubs were drawn to face each other.

Both players have been regulars for Lampard’s side so far this season and featured when the Championship team won on penalties at Manchester United in the previous round.

On the club website, Chelsea said: “We believe the experience of facing top-level opposition once more will be of benefit to their ongoing development at Derby.”

Lampard, Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer, is sure to receive a hero’s welcome on his return to Stamford Bridge. "

This is a classy move as Chelsea could simply have execised their rights in denying the youngsters the opportunity of playing against their parent club and stopped them from staking a claim to stardom by doing well against a big team.

Defender Tomori who is eligible to play for Nigeria at the international level through his Nigerian parents, despite having represented England at the Under-20 level, could do well to look at how Iwobi is flourishing with club and country since he made the decision to don the green and white of his fatherland Nigeria.

*Photo shows Iwobi with the 'Man of The Match' award he won after the Leicester.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 25, 2018

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