‘He comes across as laid back but he is helping everyone in a different way’: Alex Iwobi lauds Mesut Ozil for his leadership qualities after captaining Arsenal in win over Leicester
- Mesut Ozil captained Arsenal for first time in the Leicester win on Monday night
- Alex Iwobi has praised Ozil’s leadership qualities following the 3-1 victory
- Iwobi revealed Ozil has offered him advice he needed to raise his game this year
- The 22-year-old also said he feels a more confident player under Unai Emery
Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi has praised Mesut Ozil’s leadership, crediting the German with offering him the advice he needed to raise his own game this season.
Iwobi’s form has been much improved under Unai Emery, with the Nigerian particularly impressive in the 5-1 victory at Fulham before the international break and then during the 3-1 win over Leicester on Monday night.
Ozil captained the team for the first time and inspired an impressive comeback by scoring an equaliser, splitting the Leicester defence for the second and then providing an exquisite backheel and delicious dummy during Arsenal’s memorable third goal scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Alex Iwobi (L) has praised Mesut Ozil’s (R) leadership after the German captained Arsenal
Ozil led from the front against Leicester on Monday, scoring one and assisting one in the win
‘Mesut will come across as laid back but he is helping everyone in a different way.’ Iwobi said. ‘He helps me a lot. He gives me advice. He jokes around but always tell me I can do more – even last night he was saying I can do more.
‘But he is always happy, always telling me and giving me the confidence to express myself.
‘I have been training with him since I was 17 and I have seen what he can do. The quality he has is not just in training but as you can see in the match last night, he is a world-class player.’
Iwobi, 22, also said he now feels a more confident player under the management of Unai Emery
Iwobi, 22, also said he now feels a more confident player under the management of Emery.
Iwobi added: ‘He has just given me confidence to express myself, to believe in my ability. In training, he is always letting me try new things, be positive, be direct and then prove it in the game. I’d just say I am more confident.
‘I feel that even if I make a mistake I am able to go again. I think that is the difference between me last year and this year.’
