Okocha warns Iwobi aginst leaving Arsenal

Former Nigeria captain, Austin Okocha has expressly told his nephew, Alex Iwobi not to consider leaving Arsenal for a loan move elsewhere even though he seems to have dropped in the pecking order at the London club.

After regularly starting earlier in the season, Iwobi, 20, has found opportunities harder to come by in 2017, that nonetheless, Okocha has challenged Iwobi to work harder and reclaim his starter’s shirt with the Gunners.

“We can’t forget that this is his first full season in the first team and Arsenal have all their players back now. There’s a lot of competition, so it’s not easy,” he told Sky Sports.

“He has had a good season. It’s not easy to make it through from the academy into the first team at such a big club. He has achieved this and has been phenomenal; I am delighted with what he has achieved so far.

“I think it’s better for him to stay at Arsenal, because the style of play suits him perfectly. It might not be easy for him to go on loan and adapt somewhere else. He needs to stay and fight for his shirt.”

Iwobi was not in the Arsenal’s match day squad in their last outing against Boro but he is set to return for the clash against Manchester City at Wembley.