Alex Iwobi has opened up on his Arsenal exit, claiming the club ‘nudged’ him into signing for .
The attacking midfielder joined the Gunners’ academy in 2004 and would stay with the club for the next 15 years, eventually breaking into the first-team under .
In all, Iwobi would make 149 appearances for Arsenal, recording 15 goals and 25 assists and winning the in 2017.
It was expected that he would continue to develop and play under Wenger’s successor , but just one season after the Spaniard’s arrival he was sold to Everton for around £28million.
The Nigerian international has now revealed that the Gunners gently pushed him out the exit door at the Emirates, but while he was naturally saddened to leave his boyhood team, he was excited by the new challenge at Goodison Park.
‘My last game was the Europa League final and he [Emery] said to me, “It’s a shame I didn’t start you, I want you here next season”,’ Iwobi said on .
‘So then, from the first day to the last day, Everton pushed and pushed and pushed. And Arsenal just signed a new winger [Nicolas Pepe]… and there were a few players that were still there, they weren’t ready to [leave].
‘[Arsenal] said, “We’ve received a bid for you, it’s a high bid, we’re not going to get this money from anywhere else”.
‘It was a nudge, “it’s a winger as well, that’s probably going to play in your position. It’s up to you”.
‘They’ve given me that, and Everton’s a club that’s also a very big club that wants me. I want a new challenge, so why not pursue it?’
Iwobi’s move to Everton hasn’t been all that successful however, as prior to this season he had scored seven and assisted seven in 97 games as the Toffees fell further and further behind in the table.
This campaign has been more productive for the 26-year-old however, with one goal and eight assists in 31 games, though his form has dipped somewhat since the departure of Frank Lampard and arrival of Sean Dyche.
The club are still battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League for the first time ever, with a tough test at home to Tottenham up next on Monday night.
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