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Alex Iwobi’s Nigeria Call Up Has Immense Arsenal Implications
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal has a fantastic crop of young talent. Development of that young talent is no easy feat, but first-team play is the biggest opportunity for them to progress. That first team opportunity can not always be found on a team fighting for trophies.
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National team football is a huge part of any players life and a fantastic way to garner experience. Not long ago, Arsenal prospect Gedion Zelalem opted to play for the growing United States national team instead of the well-fortified German side. Zelalem was years away from a German call up. By choosing to play for a USMNT that is on the rise, Zelalem put himself in a position to be a key feature of that side. The USMNT is growing with a tremendous base of young talent. Zelalem made himself a piece of that base. The coaching staff has already pegged how special of a talent Zelalem is.
When Alex Iwobi chose Nigeria over England, the same was to be expected. The young Nigerian made the decision in January of this year, saying: “My dad too has told me a lot of things about the honour and pride that goes with playing for Nigeria. So I thought a lot about this and decided to play for Nigeria,” (via ESPNFC). Iwobi is also the nephew of Nigerian legend Jay-Jay Okocha, the man so great they named him twice.
Alex Iwobi was called up the the Nigerian national side and an immediate boost in his play would not be surprising. Gedion Zelalem has progressed more in the past couple of months spent between the USMNT and Rangers than he has in years. Iwobi will just be the latest Arsenal man to make a decision that benefits his career as a footballer.
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The allure of playing for England was put aside so that Iwobi could pursue the honor of playing for his homeland. Not only is that respectable, but it has massive implications. Alex Iwobi will be able to be a key feature in a national side. And it’s not like Nigeria is a push over. They, like most of the African nations, have a proud footballing heritage and a solid side.
Alex Iwobi is going to be a part of a national team at a very young age. He will learn leadership and responsibility and be able to play against some of the best athletes in the world of football. He would not have had that opportunity for years had he stayed with England.
And who is going to be there in the world of club football to reap the benefits? Arsenal. Arsenal is going to be the proud recipient of a 19 year old attacker who has first-team experience as well as the pride of representing Nigeria. Nothing boosts a players game like pride.
Look for this to impact Iwobi’s progression just like it has impacted Zelalem’s.
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