Mikel Arteta insists he is delighted to see his former Arsenal teammate Alex Iwobi finally begin to show his true potential.
The Nigeria international is one of a clutch of former Gunners whose careers have been revived by a move to Craven Cottage.
Iwobi first made a breakthrough at his boyhood club in Arteta’s last season as a player at the Emirates Stadium, but was sold by Arsene Wenger’s successor, Unai Emery, in the summer of 2019.
The 28-year-old spent four years at Everton before joining Fulham 18 months ago where he has been reinvented by Marco Silva.
Iwobi has played a central role in the west London club’s fine start to the new season and has scored four goals in his last six appearances, including a brace in Thursday night’s impressive 3-1 win over Brighton.
Fulham face the in-form Gunners on Sunday and Arteta is well aware of the threat Iwobi will offer.
Asked if he was surprised by his former teammate’s recent form, he said: ‘I always liked him a lot. I thought that he had a tremendous talent, a very special quality.
‘He had the capacity to play in different spaces and different positions. I’m really happy to see him playing at that level.’
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Arsenal, meanwhile, dropped five points against Fulham last season – two result that effectively cost them the title – and Arteta knows anything but a top display will see them come a cropper again.
He said: ‘It’s going to be a big challenge which we experienced last year when we lost five points against them.
‘I have been very complimentary about them, the coach and what they do, so it’s always a really tough place to go.’
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