Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has opened up on the stark contrast in media attention between his early days at Arsenal and his current spell at Fulham, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles midfielder came through Arsenal’s academy and broke into the first team in 2015, making his debut in a League Cup clash against Sheffield Wednesday in October of that year. He went on to play 149 matches for the Gunners across all competitions before leaving in 2019.
After stints at Everton and now Fulham, the 29-year-old has become an important figure under Marco Silva. This season alone, he has already featured 30 times in all competitions, with 26 of those coming in the Premier League as Fulham push for a potential European spot.
Alex Iwobi reflects on life at Arsenal and Fulham
Reflecting on his early career, Alex Iwobi admitted that the spotlight at Arsenal was on another level, where even small off-field moments quickly became major headlines.
The Nigerian midfielder recalled a past incident that sparked media controversy after he attended a friend’s birthday party shortly before a match in 2018.
“Yeah of course. I remember being in trouble going to my boy’s birthday. I didnt know about the 72-hour rule and it turned up in the papers”, Iwobi said per AFC Daily on X.
“At Fulham now, I see the difference in the sense of like, even though Fulham are a big club but Arsenal you get noticed for anything and they’ll just use you as a scapegoat.
“I never go out if its like two days before a game or day before a game. This was three days before a game and I’ve gone to my boy’s birthday and he’s had a controlled house party”, the 29-year-old added.
“I’ve played my best, I think I even got an assist against Nottingham Forest, but we lost in the cup. It’s now gone to the papers and they made it like ‘Ahh, Alex is at drug-fueled ballooned…’ and I’m thinking wait what?
“Because of who I am, it’s just been made a scene and obviously at the time I didn’t know there was a 72-hour rule that you shouldn’t go out.”
Iwobi also revealed how then-Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger stepped in to guide him through the situation and help him learn from it.
“Then Wenger obviously spoke to me and said all that ‘be careful, you’re an Arsenal player and the spotlight is going to be on you, but you have to be mindful because of who you are’. And I learned that from young”, the Super Eagles midfielder concluded.
For now, Iwobi’s focus is fully on Fulham’s push for European football. The Cottagers sit 12th in the Premier League and face Brentford on Saturday, hoping to close the gap on the top half as the season enters its final stretch.
