Alex Iwobi Close To New Arsenal Contract - Unai Emery

Alex Iwobi, the Nigerian International is close to agreeing a new contract with Arsenal, head coach Unai Emery has confirmed.

Iwobi, whose contract runs to 2020, made 26 appearances in the Premier League last season.

And the Nigeria international will soon renew his contract to commit his future to Arsenal, Emery told reporters ahead of an International Champions Cup meeting with former club Paris Saint-Germain.

Iwobi played no part in the 3-1 penalty shoot-out defeat to Atletico Madrid, having only just returned from a break following his exertions for Nigeria at the World Cup.

"I have the information – he's near," Emery said. "First, I want to work with every player, and they are coming.

"Mesut [Ozil], Iwobi, [Mohamed] Elneny are starting to work with us, the first week is very good. My information is he is going to sign and continue with us."

Emery's squad has been boosted by five new arrivals, with Lucas Torreira, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Bernd Leno and Matteo Guendouzi joining since last season.

The Gunners have been linked with further signings ahead of August's deadline, but Emery is content with the group at his disposal.

"I believe in these players," Emery added. "Now, I am very happy with the players. On Monday, other players come with us after the World Cup.

"If there is a possibility to sign a player, it isn't very important now, but while the window is open, we can."

Read More

I Almost Shed Tears When I Scored The Winning Goal

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi has revealed how he felt after scoring the only goal that sealed Nigeria’s spot at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Arsenal star Iwobi scored the only goal in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over a resilient Zambia in October, sending the Super Eagles to their third straight World Cup.

“It’s so hard to describe, you know what I mean. When I actually scored the moment was crazy, I remember running off celebrating,” Iwobi told Arsenal’s official website.

“I almost cried, I actually almost cried to see how the fans were reacting, to see my mum and dad in the stands, it was just an amazing feeling.

“When I scored the goal, because the security are very strict the fans were trying to come on the pitch as I scored, but the security guards stopped them and after the fans they played trumpets and banged drums, so the players were just dancing, it was just crazy.”

Iwobi says he also feels happy wearing Nigerian colours.

“Yeah, it’s basically my family, where they’re from, where I’m from it’s my homeland, so it’s always an honour to wear the green, white and green, I mean I’ve seen so many kids on the street when we’re like in the bus, they’re screaming “go Nigeria, go Nigeria”, so to represent them I’m just proud.

“It makes me feel grateful for what I have, because I’ve always grown up in England, so I didn’t really know what it was like back then. When I go back I see how people struggle in life, it’s not as easy as it is over here, so it gives me that reality check, but also I try to help people out there as well.

“It was the way they were like… it was almost like everyone won the lottery, they were just jumping. To go to the World Cup you can see it’s not just the players’ dream, it’s the fans’ dream as well and for me to get the goal for us to go through I’m just proud to do that.”

The Super Eagles who have already qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will depart their Morocco training camp on Thursday for Constantine where they will face the Fennecs Foxes of Algeria in the largely inconsequential qualifier.

Read More