Alex Iwobi is fully aware his place in the Arsenal starting lineup cannot be taken for granted with “great players” waiting in the wings.
The Nigerian international has made nine Premier League appearances this season so far despite only breaking into the side in the second half of the 2015/16 campaign.
The 20-year-old has also had his fair share of Champions League game time this term including a full 90 minutes against French giants Paris Saint- Germain.
But despite putting in a string of encouraging performances for the Gunners – he has registered three assists and an 86% pass accuracy – Iwobi says he isn’t taking Arsene Wenger’s faith in him for granted.
“If you don’t do as well as you think you could’ve done, there’s other players, other international, great players, that can just step in,” Iwobi told Arsenal Player. “So you just have to take the chance all the time and do your best when the time comes.
“The big thing is you need to stay fit and always need to give it your all. I mean, you’ve got to have the right attitude, you’ve got to be mentally prepared for whatever happens.
“Not everything is going to be smooth sailing for you so you’ve got to be prepared for all conditions.”
Arsenal face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday – a fixture in which Iwobi made a substitute appearance last season, replacing Danny Welbeck after 83 minutes.
Louis van Gaal’s side ran out 3-2 winners to enact revenge on the side that beat them 3-0 at the Emirates earlier in the campaign.
Iwobi’s international break saw him start in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Algeria before he was replaced by Leicester City forward Ahmed Musa in the second half.
Although he didn’t get himself on the scoresheet, Iwobi was seen producing a sublime piece of skill with a rainbow flick over an opposition player.
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