Arsenal: Alex Iwobi a testament to Unai Emery coaching

Unai Emery has vastly improved Alex Iwobi and has given him a boost of confidence, turning him into a new player. What does this mean for other young players at Arsenal?

Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian player has been fairly divisive over the years. Some Arsenal fans focused on his potential; others focused on his wanting performances and his inability to change a game completely.

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Last year, it was clear that he was lacking confidence on the pitch. He was afraid to try new things. He was slow and tentative on the ball, and when he made a mistake, his head would drop, his shoulders slump, and he would not ever take a risk with the ball for the remainder of the match.

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This season, however, he has done a complete 180. He is constantly trying new flicks, skills, and inventive passes. He isn’t afraid to express himself on the pitch and he has produced greater attacking returns as a result. This is all because he knows he has his manager’s support.

His performances after Unai Emery’s appointment have been excellent. Although he may have lost the momentum he had towards the beginning of the season, he has still improved an incredible amount since his forlorn days under Arsène Wenger. His revitalized showings are largely down to one man: Emery.

It is clear that Emery has unshackled the Nigerian’s inventiveness, effectiveness, and confidence. Iwobi has improved leaps and bounds since last season in the span of a few short months. More important than Emery’s influence on Iwobi, however, is what effects his coaching can have on the other players.

There are a number of exciting young prospects at Arsenal, including Matteo Guendouzi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson, Rob Holding, and Calum Chambers.

These prospects have proven themselves at the youth level and are looking to make that jump into the first team or trying to prove they can play in the first team consistently. They should look to Iwobi’s development for inspiration.

Emery has proven that he trusts his players and believes in them, even if they don’t believe in themselves. He does not, however, coddle them. If you are playing well, then you will play. It’s as simple as that. Iwobi started this season on the bench. When he played as a substitute, he played well and made a positive impact, earning him a starting spot in the past couple of games. He was then rewarded for those displays with starts.

Emery is a coach that can draw out the best in his players, especially the younger ones. If he can revitalize Iwobi, who many hated and thought should be sold at the beginning of the season, but is now a fan favorite, he can improve any player. Iwobi’s resurgence is a testament to the work of Unai Emery.