Alex Iwobi: Super Eagles midfielder says he is sharper under new Arsenal boss
In comparison to Arsene Wenger, Alex Iwobi says new manager Unai Emery has made him sharper.
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has stated that he is sharper under new Arsenal boss Unai Emery.
The 22-year-old made his first appearance of the season as the Gunners lost 3-2 to Arsenal in their last Premier League fixture as he did not feature in their opening day defeat against Manchester City.
Emery wants Arsenal to build from the back and be more energetic from pressing from the front, which demands a lot of energy, however, Iwobi is not at all daunted by the challenge to impress the new manager.
In a report by Kwese ESPN, Iwobi stated that he and his new teammates are adapting to the demands of Emery.
He said, "It's exciting times to be fair, Everybody's enjoying and buying into the new ideas.
"For me personally, I'm enjoying the new sessions, the new training methods, and the new ideas, so I'm enjoying my time with him.
"He demands a lot. He's a lot more intense, a lot of high pressing and keeping the ball so that it benefits us if we have the ball.
"It's good for us, especially the attackers who like to have the ball a lot."
Iwobi admitted that he is trying to prove himself worthy of a starting place in the team and the high energy demands by Emery is making him sharper on the pitch.
He said, "It's making me feel a bit sharper, I'm doing things with a bit more intensity," the Nigeria international added.
"It's not just for me, though, I feel like I'm helping the team a lot more. It's benefitting me a lot more.
"Whenever something in the system changes, you have to prove yourself again, but wherever you go, you have to prove that you're better than whoever else is on the team."
"At a team like Arsenal, that's always going to be hard so I always have to be on it in training and matches, I've got to be different.”
He also stated that he knows that he will have to work hard against attacking superstars such as Mesut Ozil, and Alexandre Lacazette.
He said, “It's going to be hard because we've got so many attackers and so many world-class players, so I've just got to prove that I'm on that level or as good as them so that I can be ahead of them, which is my aim."
Iwobi who called for on Arsenal fans to be more patient with the new coach is expected to be afforded minutes when the Gunners face off with West Ham United in a London Derby scheduled for the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, August 25.
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