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Football London
Football London
Sport
Laurie Martin

Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Mikel Arteta 'needs' to re-sign star they sold in 2019

Arsenal legend Ian Wright says the Gunners 'need' the intensity of Alex Iwobi, who they sold to Everton in 2019. The Toffees signed Iwobi for a fee in the region of £34 million on a five-year deal.

The Nigerian left Arsenal as a winger, but he has reinvented himself in a central midfield role at Goodison Park. The 26-year-old moved to Everton in search of regular first-team football, but he struggled to nail down a starting spot in his first couple of seasons after leaving Arsenal.

However, Iwobi is now an ever-present under Frank Lampard, and Wright thinks Mikel Arteta's midfield would be better off with the Nigeria international.

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“I’m so pleased with the way it’s going for him," he said on the Wrighty's House Podcast.

"I remember Arsenal fans, it’s the same thing they did with [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, they ridiculed him. I remember watching him play in midfield early days for Arsenal at West Ham, and you’re seeing something.

“His ball progression and work rate, what Frank [Lampard] has now recognised in him and put him there. Listen to the Everton fans when he’s doing his work, they are adoring him now. I’m loving the way it’s working out for Iwobi.

“I’m just talking about somebody who’s making a massive difference to what Everton need – the work rate, his ball progression, his passing, everything. He’s the pass before the assist, people don’t realise it.

“You look at his work rate, it’s unbelievable. It’s the kind of intensity that Mikel wants now and needs now, we need that, we need somebody who can press like that."

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