Here is another good reason why Arsenal did not sign a new striker

Arsene Wenger was roundly criticized by all and sundry for not spending any of Arsenal’s war chest on a new striker this summer, preferring to keep the faith with Olivier Giroud and converting Theo Walcott from a winger into a Henryesque type of centre-forward. Le Prof also has Chuba Akpom out on loan to further his development in that position, and now we have learned that the manager has given a new long term contract to the very promising Alex Iwobi, who has been scoring for fun with the U21 side.

The 19 year-old, who is Jay-Jay Okochi’s nephew, is a confident lad and feels he has earned the right to fight for a first team place, said on Arsenal.com: “I’m delighted to have signed a new contract, especially with a club like Arsenal who are so big,”

“I’m happy to sign for them.

“I like to think I have earned it. I have gone through a lot with Arsenal so to have a new and improved contract is very good and I’m happy to have earned it.

“I have had ups and downs. As I was growing up I had a lot of downs but as I get older things just keep getting better and better.

“The ultimate goal is to break into the first team and play as many games as I can.”

Iwobi has already been selected for the Nigeria senior team, and has been chosen for Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League squad, but father, Chuka, has announced that he wants Iwobi to go out on loan in the near future to gain some much-needed first team experience. “A few clubs in the United Kingdom and abroad have approached Arsenal to take Alex on loan, but Arsene Wenger wants him to be with the first team because he did very well in pre-season,” Chuka told Goal.

“Alex’s preferred option at this stage is to go on loan to gain first team experience and come back to Arsenal later on to fight for a place.

“Hopefully a loan move will be sorted out by the time Alex comes back from international duties.

“As regards the likely club Alex will play for on loan, at the moment discussions are ongoing.”

If he does go out on loan then Wenger must surely reserve the right to recall him in case Walcott or Giroud get a long term injury, but it will definitely be to our benefit if he could become a regular scorer, maybe with a Championship side. He is surely marked down as a star of the future and is simply another good reason why Wenger did not bring any new established striker when we may already have a prolific frontman waiting in the wings….

Tags Iwobi Okocha Wenger

10 Comments

  1. The kid is good but I don’t the nk that’s the reason.
    I have turned that page…as long as we keep on scoring thst is jajajaja

  2. Really?.?
    We most definitely need a proven 20+ goal a season frontman for at least this season where we are so poised to take advantage of any City slips. We will be kicking ourselves for years to come if we do not take this opportunity to really put in a fight for the EPL!

    1. How many goals does Walcott have in his last 17 games ? Easily +20 goal scorer but yes another one would be great but only if Giroud leaves

  3. He was very impressive in the Emirates Cup, and I believe he scored against Lyon as well. When Wenger sent Akpom out on loan I thought that he did that so that Iwobi could move up to third choice striker this season. I personally doubt he will go out on loan until Danny Welbeck is restored to fitness.

  4. Yeah its not a good reason to not bring any strikers. Strange article.
    Hope all the players come back healthy after the break. Man city looked dangerous and will be out toughest competitors. We need to take early lead as we have to tough matches in 2nd half of the season. man city away in the penultimate game. We now need to put string of victories to get substantial lead if city slips. The PL is now very unpredicatble but we must maintain consistency and take early leads.
    We must accept that we have less experience than city players in the fight for title . So later if it is very tight then we might struggle because of experience like Liverpool did two seasons ago. I would not be at all disappointed if we finish 4rth in CL group.
    Theo s form is important for us
    May be we can bring some striker in January to wrap up the title.
    Sunny
    PL should be our priority this year and it seems wenger aslo feels that

  5. If Iwobi is on the list of reasons… I dare say it’s pretty far down the list.
    There’s Theo, Giroud, Welbeck and Akpom if anyone was going to be recalled. Mavididi’s been a scoring machine in the u21’s as well

  6. Mmm I don’t think he was the reason for not purchasing another ST, I’d bet my money that the reason was mostly theo. How else would we know if he could be a legimitate CF if he doesn’t get a consistent run of games?

  7. I think the best signing this season is kloop to Liverpool. Arsenal have missed a big fish here and he could have come in as coach for 18 months and then take over. Next season Liverpool will be right up there with the best if not win the EPL. He will bring Germans in to harden the team and he will ship loads out. Arsenal will need to buy Jan or the summer to keep in touch. Liverpool will hit top 4 this season for shaw.

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