As the summer transfer window enters its final weeks, for Arsenal, the clear priority is on selling players. Having already acquired five new signings for an approximate spree of £70 million, their recruitment, for one summer, at least, is almost finished. But the squad is a little heavy.[spacer height=”30px”]
Alex Iwobi and Lucas Pérez are both part of Arsenal’s squad travelling to Singapore for pre-season but their futures may not lie in north London.[spacer height=”30px”]
Having sold Felipe Anderson to West Ham for a €35m fee, Lazio are now being linked with the Arsenal duo, who are seen as potential replacements.[spacer height=”30px”]
Rome-based newspaper Il Messaggero says Lucas is a target but the club are now also focusing on Iwobi, with the suggestion he could be available for a €25m fee.[spacer height=”30px”]
The Nigerian international struggled to make his mark at the World Cup and is highly-rated at Arsenal, with new manager Unai Emery and his staff seeing a lot of potential in him. However, a significant approach for the 22-year-old could tempt the Gunners into talks according to reports. [spacer height=”30px”]
Reports in Italy linking Lazio with interest in Iwobi (no idea if they are true).
But, if they did bid around €20m-€25m, what do you think Arsenal should do? Sell, or see if Emery can get more out of him this season?
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) July 21, 2018
[spacer height=”30px”]22-year-old Iwobi has spent his entire senior and youth career with Arsenal. He made two appearances for Arsenal’s under 18 side before quickly being moved to their under 19 side.
Iwobi made 19 appearances for Arsenal’s under 19’s, in which he scored four and assisted three.[spacer height=”30px”]
The Nigerian was then moved to Arsenal’s under 23 side, at which point he would go on to play 39 games for them, scoring 12 and assisting four in that time.[spacer height=”30px”]
This earned Iwobi a call-up to Arsenal’s first team in July of 2015. Since then, Iwobi has played 98 games for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring nine and assisting eight in those games.[spacer height=”30px”]
Iwobi is also a very versatile winger. He is naturally a left winger, a position he has played 54 times for all of Arsenal’s sides.[spacer height=”30px”]
However, he can also play right wing, a position he has played 42 times for Arsenal. Moreover Iwobi can also fill in at centre attacking midfield and even at centre-forward occasionally due to his versatility. [spacer height=”30px”]
[spacer height=”30px”]But after his initial promise, the attacker has struggled at times and has been plagued by inconsistency, with sections of the fanbase becoming increasingly frustrated by the 22-year-old.[spacer height=”30px”]
But there are others who believe the Nigeria international has huge amounts of potential and that Unai Emery could get the best out of him during the season ahead.[spacer height=”30px”]
Ultimately, selling Iwobi comes down to two factors: What does Emery think of the player? How much are Lazio willing to offer? As always, for me, it’s all about the price. If Arsenal gets the right one, they should not hesitate to sell.[spacer height=”30px”]
However it might make all the more sense in keeping him given that he is only 22, which people tend to forget, already a full time International for his country and for sure has the best of his abilities yet to come.[spacer height=”30px”]
https://twitter.com/belNSOCCER/status/1021027129704747008
[spacer height=”30px”]Given that his playing style does intend to frustrate supporters quite often for not being too effective in games and not decisive enough, his dribbling skills and natural ball holding capabilities are a joy to watch on the field which why with proper tutelage Emery can indeed manage to bring the best out of this lad. [spacer height=”30px”]
29-year-old Perez is, however, more likely to be sold by Arsenal given that he has just returned from a loan spell which basically had ended his career here at the Emirates and also because of the fact that Arsenal are looking to reduce the dead weight in order to be able to fund two new signings. [spacer height=”30px”]
He may also sign a new deal at Arsenal till 2022.[spacer height=”60px”]
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