The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Iwobi

  • Wenger hails brave Iwobi

    Wenger hails brave Iwobi

    Arsenal manager,  Arsene Wenger, had kind words to say about his young Nigerian forward, Alex Iwobi after the Gunners 3 – 1 triumph over Sunderland in the FA Cup on Saturday.

    The teenager sparkled in his first start at the Emirates Stadium and was involved in the equalizer netted by Joel Campbell in the first half .

    “I liked the timing of his passes. In the middle of the park that is a vital quality and that fact he plays forward and sees [things].

    “As a young boy he is not afraid to come on and that is not easy, ” Wenger told reporters, according to arsenal.com.

    If the Community Shield is thrown into the mix, Iwobi has been included in Arsenal’s 18 – man squad 14 times this season by the Frenchman.

  • Iwobi to make Arsenal squad against Newcastle

    Iwobi to make Arsenal squad against Newcastle

    Alex Iwobi is poised to make his fourth appearance for Arsenal in the Premier League on today when the table-toppers tackle Newcastle United at the Emirates.

    The Super Eagles fringe player was involved in first team training on Saturday alongside six other youngsters in the shape of Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Matt Macey , Dan Crowley, Chris Willock, Ben Sheaf and Glen Kamara.

    Monday’s 2 – 0 win over AFC Bournemouth, when he lasted barely a minute on the pitch, was Iwobi’s maiden game for the Gunners at home.

    By all indications, the teenager will make the 18 – man squad for the seventh straight game across all competitions this weekend.

    His uncle, Austin Okocha had informed allnigeriasoccer.com late October that he may be farmed out on loan in the January transfer window due to his lack of playing opportunities in the first team.

  • Iwobi misses Arsenal’s U-21 clash

    Iwobi misses Arsenal’s U-21 clash

    Alex Iwobi was not in the Arsenal U-21s squad that lost 2-1 to their Aston Villa counterparts in the Under 21 Premier League Division 2 on Monday afternoon at Meadow Park.

    This  fueled speculation that the Nigeria international could be named in the  Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Emirates yesterday.

    The 19 – year – old was one of the five youngsters that trained with Arsenal’s first team on Sunday, the final training session before the tie with Citizens.

    Iwobi has not featured in the Premier League since his cameo appearance against Swansea City on October 31.

    The Hale End product has notched four goals for the Gunners youth team this term.

  • Iwobi break Arsenal ‘bizarre’ record

    Iwobi break Arsenal ‘bizarre’ record

    Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has earned his name in the Arsenal history book after making his Premier League debut in the Gunners 3-0 win over Swansea on Saturday.

    Iwobi, who has been tipped for a big future at Arsenal, broken a crazy record for being the first outfield player to feature for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger in the league that doesn’t have any of the letters ARSENAL in his surname.

    The U-23 player came off the bench in stoppage time to replace Mesut Özil during the 3-0 victory over the Swans at the Liberty Stadium.

    And according to Damian McBride, former advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and huge football fan, Iwobi took the bizarre title in the process.

    “Alex Iwobi is the first outfield player to feature in the Premier League under Arsene Wenger with none of the letters Arsenal in his name!” McBride twieet.

    “Iwobi isn’t the only Arsenal player to feature under Wenger without the letters Arsenal in his name – goalkeeper Mart Poom takes that crown.”

    The 19-year-old forward, who was invited by coach Sunday Oliseh for the World Cup qualifier against Swaziland recently signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

    Iwobi finished the 2014/15 campaign with nine goals in nine matches for the under-21s and has continued his scoring form this season, netting twice in five appearances for the second string.

    A graduate of the Arsenal Academy, Alex first joined the club while still in primary school.

    Having represented England at youth level, the Lagos-born youngster is currently invited to senior international duty with Nigeria.

  • IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    IWOBI TO SIASIA: I’ll play for Dream Team VI

    Super Eagles and Arsenal Football Club of England striker Alex Iwobi has declared huge interest in playing for the Samson Siasia tutored Dream Team VI.

    Iwobi who was wooed by Siasia to play for the Dream Team VI during the qualifying series for 2015 All Africa Games but couldn’t play home and away to Zambia as a result none clearance of his eligibility status by world football governing body FIFA has now been officially cleared after being capped twice for the Super Eagles against DR Congo and Cameroon having being invited by Eagles’ Chief Coach Sunday Oliseh.

    Speaking with SportingLife from his base in London yesterday, Iwobi who showered praises on Eagles gaffer Sunday Oliseh for extending invitations to him also expressed readiness to help the Dream Team VI in the team’s bid to qualify for the 2016 Olympics but Nigeria must pick a ticket first in an Africa U-23 Championship slated for Senegal next month.

    “I was very happy that I eventually got my chance to play for my fatherland Nigeria and not only that I got two caps to that effect so I thank the Coach Sunday Oliseh and everybody that supported me. I am very happy to play for my fatherland.

    “Since I have a very good relationship with the Nigeria Football Federation, Coach Sunday Oliseh and Coach Samson Siasia I am ready to help my country at any level they want me to. I’m just very proud to play for my country, the level does not really matter to me. If Coach Samson Siasia extends invitation to me I will surely honour the invitation and come down to join the rest of the players to play,” Iwobi told SportingLife.

  • Musa, Iwobi to hit Belgium today

    Musa, Iwobi to hit Belgium today

    SportingLife can exclusively confirm that CSKA Moscow of Russia  striker Ahmed Musa and Arsenal’s talented teenage striker Alex Iwobi will hit Belgium today for the Super Eagles’ two friendly matches holding in the country.

    The Nigeria’s senior national team will slug it out against Democratic Republic of Congo slated for Stade Charles Tondreau on Thursday and against Cameroun at Stade Van Roy on  October 11.

    Musa told SportingLife “All things being possible I hope to be in Belgium  on Monday (today).”

    Alex Iwobi’s father, Chuka also confirmed his son’s arrival date for the Belgium friendlies.

    “Alex will definitely be in Belgium tomorrow (today). The ticket has been booked. Alex is looking forward to working with Oliseh and is happy with his decision to play for the country of his birth and has the full support of the family”, Iwobi senior told SportingLife yesterday.

  • Fashanu: Iwobi not ripe for Eagles

    Former England International John Fashanu’s opinion is that Super Eagles latest invitee Alex Iwobi, is not yet good enough to be called up to the  senior national team.

    The 19-year-old Arsenal teen is yet to make his competitive debut for Arsenal at senior level but, has been one of their consistent performers at youth level where he presently captains the team.

    Last Friday,the youngster was on target for the Arsenal Under-21 in their 3-2 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, a sign of his fine form but Fashanu still believes the Eagles call up is a bit early for the lad.

    “Good player with lots of potential but he is not ripe for the Super Eagles, that is just so clear and his call up is not fair to other youth players of his age bracket,” he told News24.

    Fashanu, however, said he believes the handlers of the national team  might have seen enough of Iwobi, for them to have called him up but he believes he is best suited to the youth teams of Nigeria.

    “He is one for the youth teams not for the senior team at least for now, until he gets regular game time at competitive level that is my opinion”.

  • Iwobi needs FIFA’s approval to face Gabon

    NigeriaU-23 National  Team coach, Samson Siasia, could be taking a risk if he fields Arsenal’s U-21 skipper Alex Iwobi in the All Africa Games qualifier against Gabon on Saturday.

    The attacking midfielder has represented the youth teams of England at U- 16 to U-18 level, and he has raised fears that he may be ineligible to represent Nigeria, as he is unsure if the caps came in competitive matches.

    But if that is the case, FIFA must approve the Arsenal starlet’s one time international allegiance switch before he can turn out for any of Nigeria’s national teams.

    ”I have not sent any application to FIFA to switch nationalities. I am not 100 per cent sure if the games I played for England were competitive matches,” Alex Iwobi told SL10.ng.

    ”I don’t think I played in the Euro qualifiers. I have played in tournaments, I don’t know if they count. I am not sure if I am eligible to play against Gabon.

    ”But I am looking forward to the game. We can do well and get a good victory.  I have been well treated since I came here and everyone welcomed me.”

    It is confirmed that Alex Iwobi’s caps for the England U-17s and U-18s came in friendlies, but the status of his seven international appearances for their U-16 side remain unclear at the moment.

    The England FA should have all the right answers but they decided to play a cat and mouse game when contacted by SL10.ng, with Customer Relations Officer Simon Bower saying the association is still investigating the matter after five working days.

  • Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Iwobi a big prospect for Nigeria — Siasia

    Dream Team VI Chief Coach, Samson Siasia has showered encomiums on Arsenal Football Club midfielder, Alexander Iwobi and already tipped him for great showing in the colours of Nigeria.

    Without mincing words on the talent, skills and abilities of the 18 year old talented midfielder Siasia told NationSport that the player will definitely fulfil his potentials in no distance future with the Super Eagles with what he has seen so far from the five days the player stayed with the rest of the players in camp.

    The former Super Eagles handler also disclosed that he would like to have Iwobi to play for his U-23 national team in one of the two friendly matches against Tunisia in Tunis, which the player’s father Chuka Iwobi had promised to persuade Arsenal Coach, Arsene Wenger to ensure the release of the midfielder for the game.

    “As a former International and a coach who had been with players of immense talents, I would say without bias and prejudice that Alex Iwobi is a bomb ready to explode for Nigeria. He is a big prospect and Nigeria is surely blessed with a player that will be a huge asset for the country. I am very happy with the boy for choosing to play for Nigeria. No wonder England also tried to woo him. I am elated to have him in my team.

    “He still needs polishing, but that won’t be a problem because the boy is ready to learn and he has enjoyed his stay with the rest of the players. He also told them he would like to be in Tunis for the two games,” Siasia stated.

    Siasia is also happy that the Tunisia friendly would be a very good test for his team before the All Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon next month.

    “I must thank the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for arranging this game for us. The boys are aware of the huge task ahead and are ready to perform against Tunisia because that will definitely test their readiness for the Gabon match. I am happy because it is a two-legged match which will afford me to have more assessment of my team. We still hope to travel on Tuesday (tomorrow)”, Siasia disclosed.

    “Talking about Alex joining the team in Tunis for the Tunisia match, his Dad has promised to talk to his Coach in Arsenal for the club to release him for the match since he has good relationship with the Coach. So, the NFF is also aware of this and will work in conjunction with Alex Dad to secure the player’s release for at least one of the two friendly games against Tunisia. But he will have to join from England because he is travelling back to England tonight to beat the dead line given to him to return”, Siasia also disclosed.