‘It was a nudge’: Alex Iwobi suggests Arsenal pushed him to leave in 2019

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Everton attacker Alex Iwobi has opened up on his transfer from Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

The £35 million (Sky Sports) man left the Gunners right after Unai Emery’s debut season at the Emirates Stadium.

As years have passed by and Alex Iwobi has become a mainstay at Everton, he has broken down how the transfer happened from Arsenal back then.

Iwobi on Everton transfer & Arsenal exit

The Nigerian international’s career, labeled as a ‘different player’ now by Jermaine Defoe seemed to be dwindling for the Gunners after initially bursting on to the scene.

Alex Iwobi, who always seemed Arsenal through and through told The Beautiful Game Podcast what led him to accept a transfer to Everton.

“First day, received the bid. It wasn’t obviously what the bid was initially at the end. They said ‘no, we don’t want you to go. Unai Emery really likes your play, you were really influential last season or the season best, and [you had] your best season, according to stats, creating chances, so he doesn’t want you to go.’”

“And my last game was the Europa League final [4-1 defeat to Chelsea] and I’d scored. He [Unai Emery] said to me, ‘It’s a shame I didn’t start you. I want you here next season.’ So, then from the first day to the last day, obviously, Everton pushed and pushed and Arsenal just signed a new winger [Nicolas Pepe], and there were a few players that were still there; they weren’t ready to go, sort of thing.”

Iwobi continued about his decision to embrace a transfer to Everton instead of staying at Arsenal, saying, “Obviously won’t name names but they weren’t ready to go. They said, ‘we’ve received a bid for you, it’s a high bid. We’re not going to money from anywhere else.”

“It was a nudge. ‘It’s a winger that’s probably going to play in your position, it’s up to you.’ So, I thought, okay cool. They’ve given me that and Everton’s also a very big club that want me. I want a new challenge, so why not pursue it?”

All’s well that ends well as Arsenal, Everton and Alex Iwobi have all benefited from the transfer four years ago.