Mikel Arteta was at Arsenal while Alex Iwobi was coming up through the ranks
Mikel Arteta insists he is delighted to see his former Arsenal teammate Alex Iwobi finally begin to show his true potential.
The Nigeria international is one of a clutch of former Gunners whose careers have been revived by a move to Craven Cottage.
Iwobi first made a breakthrough at his boyhood club in Arteta’s last season as a player at the Emirates Stadium, but was sold by Arsene Wenger’s successor, Unai Emery, in the summer of 2019.
The 28-year-old spent four years at Everton before joining Fulham 18 months ago where he has been reinvented by Marco Silva.
Iwobi has played a central role in the west London club’s fine start to the new season and has scored four goals in his last six appearances, including a brace in Thursday night’s impressive 3-1 win over Brighton.
Fulham face the in-form Gunners on Sunday and Arteta is well aware of the threat Iwobi will offer.
Asked if he was surprised by his former teammate’s recent form, he said: ‘I always liked him a lot. I thought that he had a tremendous talent, a very special quality.
Alex Iwobi made his breakthrough at Arsenal in Mikel Arteta’s last season as a player
‘He had the capacity to play in different spaces and different positions. I’m really happy to see him playing at that level.’
Arsenal, meanwhile, dropped five points against Fulham last season – two result that effectively cost them the title – and Arteta knows anything but a top display will see them come a cropper again.
He said: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge which we experienced last year when we lost five points against them.
‘I have been very complimentary about them, the coach and what they do, so it’s always a really tough place to go.’