Alex Iwobi challenged to become a star at Arsenal under Unai Emery by Nwankwo Kanu

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Big season | Will Iwobi become a star under Arsenal's new boss
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James Benge3 August 2018

Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu has challenged Alex Iwobi to become “a star” having signed a new long-term deal at the Emirates.

Iwobi has been handed a fresh five-year contract by new head coach Unai Emery, who has already pronounced himself with his first impressions of the 22-year-old.

Iwobi has made 98 appearances for Arsenal since breaking through late in the 2015-16 season but, after an encouraging start to his career, the playmaker has struggled to find consistency.

On the international stage Iwobi is a key player in Gernot Rohr’s Nigeria side but his compatriot sees him shy away from the spotlight at club level.

“In Arsenal you have big, big names,” Kanu told Standard Sport. “I don’t think he sees himself in that way.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

“When I talk with him I want him to feel that way. Just because you’re younger than the other players doesn’t mean you’re not a star. He’s a star in his own right.

“When he comes to Nigeria he feels the pressure: he’s Iwobi, he needs to deliver. With Arsenal he thinks ‘ok, there’s other names here, no problem’. He needs to change that."

Iwobi’s struggles were such last season it was speculated he could be sold on to Lazio this summer, though Emery is convinced he can get the best out of him.

“For me he’s a special kid,” said Kanu, who made 192 appearances and scored 41 goals for the Gunners after joining in 1999. “Arsenal know the quality he has got and they know he can deliver on that eventually.

“He didn’t just become a bad player overnight. If the team isn’t doing well it affects everybody. He’s a talented player who’ll do more and do better for Arsenal.”

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Regardless Iwobi faces a tough task in carving out a regular role for himself in Emery’s first team, competing as he is against the likes of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has often been deployed in the wide left role the academy graduate is most comfortable in.

That is not an unfamiliar challenge for Kanu, who spent five years at Arsenal battling Dennis Bergkamp and Sylvain Wiltord for game time alongside Thierry Henry.

“You have to believe in your quality first of all. You have to know your strengths and tell yourself you’re the best.

“At times I didn’t play but I was still the best - that’s how I saw it. If I get 15, 20 minutes I will do what I have to do and make an impact.

“Iwobi needs to be convinced he can be in the team and if the coach thinks otherwise he has to fight to convince him he should be.”

Kanu was speaking at the launch of Petrolex Kanu Cup 2018, the legends match is raising funds for the Kanu Heart foundation. Taking place at The Hive Stadium on Sunday September 30th, the game will feature stars like Sol Campbell, Robert Pires and Kanu himself. To buy tickets click here

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