Alex Iwobi extend Arsenal relationship

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi has signed a new contract at Arsenal.

The Nigerian international’s new deal is believed to extend his stay at the club until 2023 and was confirmed last week by Unai Emery, who is eager to maximise the potential of a 22-year-old who has struggled to push on over the last 18 months.

Iwobi had been targeted by Italian side Lazio, who are also keen on his team-mate Lucas Perez, but the youngster has opted to stay in north London.

“I’m very pleased Alex has signed a new contract with us,” Emery told the club’s official website.

“He is a great example of a player who can succeed from the Academy through hard work and I look forward to working with him and our other talented young players in the squad.”

A product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Iwobi first burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old in the 2015-16 season, making his first Champions League start against Barcelona in the Nou Camp and scoring goals in his first Premier League starts against Everton and Watford.

The playmaker began the following season in fine form, winning the man of the match award in a 3-0 demolition of Chelsea, but since then has underwhelmed, eventually becoming the subject of much fan ire.

Iwobi made 22 Premier League starts last season and is likely to figure prominently in Emery’s plans this term, particularly as Arsenal are relatively short on players who can naturally fill the wide left role in which he is most often deployed