%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal Would Be Wise To Send Alex Iwobi To Birmingham City
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal is always going to have a hefty supply of youngsters out on loan. Is Alex Iwobi the next one to garner his first-team experience away from the mothership?
It was just a month or so ago that Arsenal was considering loaning out Alex Iwobi. There were apparently numerous sides interested. The young attacker had just switch his country of representation to his home of Nigeria. It only made sense that more first team experience would be in his future.
Related: Arsenal’s Top 10 Prospects
But those rumors disappeared and Alex Iwobi remained. Now that Arsenal is witnessing the return of Aaron Ramsey and soon to be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Also factor in the emergence of Joel Campbell and Kieran Gibbs. Alex Iwobi has sunk further down the totem pole. The young Nigerian greatly impressed in Arsenal’s preseason. But his sole appearance for the Arsenal first team against Sheffield United did not go according to plan.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
At 19 years of age, sitting in the reserves is going to become rather tedious. He is going to have to learn to be a part of a bigger competition and a bigger picture. Gedion Zelalem is learning this. He is learning to cope with the deficiencies in his game and compensate for them with his efficiency. That could not necessarily be learned suiting up in the Arsenal reserves.
Likewise, Chuba Akpom and Isaac Hayden are learning to deal with adversity. They didn’t just walk into the Hull City first team. They are having to earn it. Which, rather unnervingly, they have not accomplished yet.
There are two teams that are barking up Alex Iwobi’s tree at the moment, according to the latest reports. Those teams are Reading and Birmingham City (according to the Birmingham Mail). Reading would be cool, but the more desirable destination would be Birmingham City.
Next: Arsenal's 10 Greatest Champions League Moments
The Blues are currently the home of Arsenal’s Jon Toral. The Spanish midfielder is having a pretty solid season thus far in Birmingham and linking him up with Alex Iwobi would be ideal for Arsenal’s future. It was nice enough seeing Akpom and Hayden linking up at Hull City. Doing the same with Toral and Iwobi would be superb.
Again, the world does not cater to Arsene Wenger. But if Iwobi and Toral both maintain a spot in the Birmingham City first team, they will be building a rapport. That rapport will never go away. On the rather off chance that they both hit and stick in the Arsenal first team, they will already have a good understanding together. Can’t beat that.