Nwosu Defends Iwobi Over Harsh Criticism From Arsenal

Published on: 07 March 2017

Former Super Eagles midfielder Henry Nwosu believes Arsenal star Alex Iwobi will become an even better player for club and country, nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The 20-year-old, with eight caps for Nigeria, has scored four goals and provided seven assists in 34 matches for Arsenal this season in all competitions, but his performance in the Gunners' 3-1 defeat against Liverpool on Saturday evening did not sit well with a cross section of Arsenal fans who lambasted him on Twitter.

Nwosu however while speaking with our team opines that the best of the player who is a nephew to former Super Eagles captain Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha has not been seen yet.

"There are some facets of Alex Iwobi's game which he needs to work on like his shooting and combativeness because at the moment his game is not even up to 80%," Nwosu, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles.

"But as much as the criticisms will help him grow, I also want to urge Arsenal and Nigeria fans to show him some understanding.

"Iwobi himself has spoken of the positive impact some Arsenal and Nigeria stars have made in his game. I know it will only get better."

Nwosu further insisted that Iwobi should strive to have his 'own image' as a result of his relationship with Okocha.

"Alex is young but he has also displayed maturity in most of his games for a boy of his age so far. Long may it continue and hopefully even better ones," he added.

"Despite having a legend in the game in the person of Jay Jay Okocha as an uncle, he should not be laid back and allow his performances to drop. When I was young, I did not allow the fact that I played with established stars get into my head, I continued working hard."

Manager Arsene Wenger deployed Iwobi in the number 10 role on Saturday evening in the absence of Mesut Ozil who missed out through illness.

Arsenal suffered a major blow in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier League by that defeat.

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