Manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Arsenal attacker Alex Iwobi is set to sign a new long term contract at the club, according to the London Evening Standard.
The publication states that the Nigeria international will put pen to paper on a deal through to 2023, after impressing Emery following the new manager’s arrival from Paris Saint-Germain. He had been attracting interest from Lazio this summer, who 90min.com reported would be allowed to purchase the player if an offer of £22million came in.
“I have the information, he is near,” Emery said when asked by a reporter about Iwobi’s new deal, “My information is he will sign to stay with us.”
Since breaking into the Gunners first team in 2016 the 22-year-old has gone on to make 98 appearances for the club and score nine goals. He emerged as a real favourite of Arsene Wenger in the Frenchman’s final years at the Emirates Stadium.
Good move for Arsenal?
Iwobi is a famously divisive figure amongst Gunners fans, with some appreciating his energetic contributions to the team and other admonishing him as not good enough for the club. However, successive managers have now seen enough from the Nigerian for him to earn their trust. Iwobi is one of a small number of Arsenal players who are comfortable playing on the wing, and his versatility is likely a big reason for this contract extension. The fact that he remains at the club despite heavy interest from Lazio tells you all you need to know about his worth to the Gunners hierarchy. This is an important season for Iwobi, and with this new contract set to be signed, it’s time he makes the next step on the pitch.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
Emery has stated that Iwobi will sign a new contract and there is no reason to doubt him. If the Arsenal boss didn’t want him or if Iwobi was targeting a move away, he’d be in Rome by now. This one seems like a done deal.
This is Futbol rating: 9/10