The former Gunners striker believes the Nigerian is now ahead of the England man in Arsene Wenger’s pecking order.
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright says Alex Iwobi is now ahead of namesake Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in the club’s pecking order.
Gunners legend Wright told BBC Radio Five Live, via SportsMole, Iwobi has now overtaken the England international and faces a tough task to break back into to Arsene Wenger’s regular starting XI.
The Nigerian has started the last seven league games on the Arsenal left, as Alexis Sánchez has pushed into a more advanced role for Wenger’s side.
Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi celebrates with Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal after Alexis Sanchez (not pictured) scores their first goal
Wright, who scored 185 goals in 288 appearances for the North Londoners now believes Iwobi has done enough to stake his claim for a permanent starting berth.
Wright said via Sportsmole: “Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a player with an unbelievable amount of ability. Alex Iwobi has come in and overtaken him.”
With Arsenal hampered with injuries in October of last term, Iwobi broke into the first team. The 20 year-old made his Premier League debut in a 3-0 win verus Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium.
Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi celebrates scoring their second goal
After an impressive run in the team, Iwobi played 628 minutes of game time by the end of the campaign, scoring twice versus Everton and Watford respectively and assisting twice more.
The early stages of this season have merely cemented the winger’s progress in the space of less than 12 months.
Iwobi notched two assists in Arsenal’s 4-1 win away to Hull City and he has not been omitted from Arsene Wenger’s team-sheet since mid-September.
In contrast, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s progress has stagnated in North London and was the brunt of vehement criticism in the North London derby, with some quarters of the Gunners’ fan base claiming the winger should not wear the shirt again.
Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Despte not scoring this term, Ian Wright believes the Nigerian has blossomed under his manager and states Iwobi could be a regular fixture in the side for some time to come, at the expense of Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“What you want to see is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain get into the team and have a real go at trying to cement a place in Arsene Wenger’s side”, said the former striker.
Wright adds, “I can feel that Oxlade-Chamberlain is going to find it hard in the next few weeks depending on how Arsenal do.”
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