Alex Iwobi has expressed his surprise at recent praise from Mesut Ozil, while revealing some advice given by his superstar teammate.
Arsene Wenger has used Iwobi prominently since his first Champions League start in March, away to Barcelona.
The Nigeria international has enjoyed a spectacular rise in recent months, having cemented his place in Arsenal’s starting XI alongside the likes of Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
This week, Ozil hailed the 20-year-old by likening him to former greats Edgar Davids and Jay-Jay Okocha – the latter being Iwobi’s uncle.
Reacting to those comments from the German playmaker, Iwobi has spoken of the pointers given by his colleague in training.
The Arsenal academy graduate told the club’s official website: “Mesut just tells me that I’m young and need to express myself on the pitch.
“Obviously I need to listen to other people’s advice as well, but he tells me to always play with a smile on my face and enjoy the game.
“When I saw [the comparison to Okocha and Davids] I was like, ‘Wow is he serious?’ because he never really says that much to me. He just gives me advice and help, but it’s such a confidence boost for such a great player to say that about me.”
Iwobi has played in five of the Gunners’ seven Premier League fixtures this season, registering a team-high three assists in a free-flowing front-line.
Ozil, meanwhile, is surprisingly yet to lay on a goal in the current campaign, but has scored himself in victories over Watford and Chelsea.
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