Alex Iwobi reveals harsh truth on how ex-PSG boss pushed him out at Arsenal

Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi has revealed how ex-PSG boss Unai Emery forced him out when he was at Arsenal, Afrik Foot reports.

Iwobi moved through the ranks at Arsenal’s Hale End academy before making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2015.

The Nigerian star would go on to spend another four years at the club before jetting out to Everton on the transfer window deadline day in the summer of 2019.

How Unai Emery forced Iwobi out of Arsenal

The one-time FA Cup winner represented Nigeria at the AFCON 2019 tournament in Egypt, winning the bronze medal under Gernot Rohr’s tutelage.

As such, Iwobi was given more time off to recover from the summer outing with his national team, and as such, missed the team’s pre-season activities.

He was out on a boat in Dubai when a call came from his agent that Arsenal were in talks with Everton over a potential deal.

What made the call further appalling was that Emery had told Iwobi that the midfielder was a part of his plans, yet in the same transfer window, signed Nicolas Pepe from LOSC Lille.

“I was away at the AFCON, I had a good tournament, and was given a two week extra holiday by Unai Emery,” the 29-year-old said on the High Performance Podcast.

“I was in Dubai with my family, having a good time, but they signed Nicolas Pepe who’s a great winger by the way.

“Then I thought, if you really want me, why are you bringing in another winger?

“I didn’t think anything of it, and my agent told me Everton were interested, and I thought, ‘oh, that’s nice to hear’.

“Marco Silva called me, and the next thing you know, Arsenal had sent my medical documents to Everton, and before I said yes or no, they made it clear they didn’t mind me going.

“Everton were very welcoming. I didn’t have to do a medical.

“Arsenal played against Liverpool and they came to town. Then Unai Emery saw me and told me it wasn’t his decision, but was the club’s decision.

“He said the club needed to sell a player and the most money they could make was from my sale.

“He told me that’s what football is like. He respects me as a football player. Everytime we go to play against Aston Villa, he asks after me and my family, he’s a nice guy.

“That made me realise that football is also a business,” Alex Iwobi concluded.

Iwobi has gone on to play over 300 Premier League games for Everton, Fulham and Arsenal, the most of any Nigerian player in the English top-flight.