With Arsenal deciding to withdraw their contract offer for Aaron Ramsey, The Gunners now need to draw up a list of potential replacements.

Argentinian youngster Matias Vargas is the latest attacking talent to be linked with the club.

Yet I wonder if current Arsenal man Alex Iwobi can stake his claim during this current campaign.

The Nigerian internationalist seems extremely happy with Gunners new boss Unai Emery:

“It’s exciting times to be fair,”

“Everybody’s enjoying and buying into the new ideas. For me personally, I’m enjoying the new sessions, the new training methods and the new ideas, so I’m enjoying my time with him.”

In turn, the Spanish boss has applauded Iwobi’s contribution to the team:

“I’m very happy with him and his mentality. He has the quality to play right or left, to do more one-on-ones against the opposition.”

“I want him to stay nearer the box to score and be more aggressive, finding assists for team-mates. This is the way for him and other players.”

The twenty-two year old is still trying to break into the first team on a regular basis.

He’s started in two Premier League games and came off the bench another two times. He has also started in Arsenal’s opening Europa League fixture.

With Ramsey’s future set to continue elsewhere, I think Emery should be doing his upmost to get Iwobi into his team more regularly.

Alex can play on either wing, he seems to be at his best on the left, and I also think he can play as a number ten. He has good vision and has the ability to put in some key through balls for the strikers. Iwobi can also take the ball with him as he likes a dribble.

Unlike Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi isn’t scarred by negativity that surrounds his game and he isn’t under the same pressure either. The Nigerian looks hungry to prove himself on the big stage and he’s committed to the cause, having recently signed a new deal with the club.

In Arsenal’s recent win over  Watford, the youngster came off the bench and became a game changer with his directness and energy.

Like so many others, Alex looked a bit lost under Arsene Wenger. The team as a whole were stale and it wasn’t a conducive atmosphere for young talent to come in and shine.

Don’t get me wrong there still needs to be improvement in his game. The forward thinking player needs to get on the scoresheet more and he can also improve on his defensive game but these are things that might appear once he’s found his best position and playing regularly from the start.

Now under Unai Emery, most to the Arsenal squad has a clean slate to now impress the new gaffer.

It might be too late for Aaron Ramsey and the time might be right for Alex Iwobi to step up and claim his place in the starting line-up.

Posted on October 3rd, 2018 by scott
Filed under: Article