Ian Wright has made the bold claim that Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side would benefit from having someone like Everton star Alex Iwobi in their team.
The Toffees talent is of course a former Gunners figure himself, graduating from the club's famed Hale-End academy into the first-team where he made an impressive 149 appearances under both Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery. It is the latter manager that Wright appears to imply made a mistake in letting Iwobi leave North London.
In the summer of 2019, the Nigerian international was sold by Arsenal to Everton for a reported fee of £35million - a figure that certainly raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. However, under Toffees boss Frank Lampard Iwobi has enjoyed a change of role that has seen him go from being a wide-forward to a more central-midfield figure.
With that tactical tweak, Iwobi has gone from strength to strength and showcased a number of skilsets few knew he actually had. The 26-year-old has proved he can contribute defensively with his tireless pressing.
Wright always enjoyed a close relationship with Iwobi while the latter was at Arsenal and is clearly delighted the player has found some form after an undeniably slow start to life at Goodison Park.
Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, Arsenal legend Wright even went as far to say that Arteta's current crop could be improved by adding a player like Iwobi in the mix.
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"I’m so pleased with the way it’s going for him," Wright admitted. "I remember Arsenal fans, it’s the same thing they did with Oxlade-Chamberlain, they ridiculed him. I remember watching him play in midfield early days for Arsenal at West Ham, and you’re seeing something.
"His ball progression and work rate, what Frank has now recognised him and put him there, listen to the Everton fans when he’s doing his work, they are adoring him now. I’m loving the way it’s working out for Iwobi. He’s the pass before the assist, people don’t realise it.
"Everton fans are now starting to realise that if they get the right players in and around him, he’s going to be a force for them. You look at his work rate, it’s unbelievable. It’s the kind of intensity that Mikel wants now and needs now, we need that, we need somebody who can press like that."
Plenty of Emery's transfer dealings from his time as Gunners boss have hardly aged well - whether that be £72m club-record signing Nicolas Pepe who is now on loan with Ligue 1 side OGC Nice or bad-boy midfielder Matteo Guendouzi who has since left for Marseille.
