'It's always special' - Hale End graduate Iwobi says he has a point to prove against Arsenal

Africa Cup of Nations-bound Nigeria international Alex Iwobi will put his ties to Arsenal to one side for at least ninety minutes on Sunday afternoon when his current club Fulham do battle with the Gunners at Craven Cottage. 

Hale End Academy graduate Iwobi was on the books of Arsenal for fifteen years, rising through the ranks to make his professional debut in a League Cup tie with Sheffield Wednesday in October 2015.

Overall, he made 149 appearances for Arsenal before he was unceremoniously sold to Everton in 2019 for what was then a Nigerian record fee of £35 million.

Since departing the Emirates Stadium for pastures new, Iwobi has played against his boyhood club seven times, winning three, drawing one and losing the others. 

Iwobi has insisted that he has a point to prove against Arsenal in what could be his final game before jetting off to the United Arab Emirates to link up with his international teammates at their Africa Cup of Nations training camp. 

Speaking to the Fulham Matchday programme for the visit of Arsenal, Iwobi said: "It’s always special [playing against Arsenal] and one I’m looking forward to of course.  

"Because we’ve had a lot of matches recently, I haven’t given it much thought until now. It has been the old cliché of taking things a match at a time.  

"I’ve always felt like I’ve got a point to prove coming up against Arsenal. As is always the case, I want to play my part and be on the winning side."

Iwobi is in good form heading into the fixture against Arsenal having registered four goal involvements (3 goals, 1 assist) in his last seven matches in the Premier League. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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