The Nigeria international has revealed how his superstar team mates help him improve, including jokes in the training ground and a new name for a certain German midfielder
Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has revealed how Mesut Ozil makes him call him ‘my boss’ when he provides him with a goal.
It was Arsenal’s assister-in-chief Ozil who set him up for his first ever Champions League goal on Tuesday night, latching onto an Alexis Sanchez pass before squaring the ball for Iwobi to tap in.
And the Nigeria international has revealed the nickname he is told to refer to his team-mate as, as a thanks for his creativity.
“I have to call him [Ozil] ‘my boss’ because he assisted me,” Iwobi told The Guardian.
The 20-year-old also reflected on his rise to prominance and his impressive Arsenal career to date, saying : ” Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
“When I sit down and actually think about what I have done, to score in the Under-19s a year ago and then to score my first Champions League goal for the senior team is mad.”
And thanks to experienced colleagues such as Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the 20-year-old is always aware who helped him get there.
“Alexis likes to take the mick out of me when I don’t score in training. They are funny.
“They [his team-mates] will tell you what you need to work on but in a jokey kind of way. They do advise me, saying I just need to compose myself, relax and the chances will come. They try to help in the best way they can.”
Following his first goal in Europe’s premier competition, Iwobi is in no mood to rest on his laurels or his most recent bumper contract.
“As a young kid earning so much, having a house and driving a nice car it is nice but it is something I keep level-headed about.”
The challenge now, he says, is to reach the level of productivity provided by his more senior team mates.
He added: “That’s what the big players get recognised for, scoring goals or creating goals.
“I feel like I did, then I had a little drought, but I think that this goal against Basel will give me a confidence boost.”
Iwobi will be hoping to make another appearance when Arsenal take on Stoke City on Saturday.