Alex Iwobi was asked to represent Nigeria in the Rio Olympics, however, Arsene Wenger requested that he stay.

In an interview with the Evening Standard, the forward admitted that he wishes he could have gone but concedes that if he had, he might not be in the position he’s in now.

“I would like to have played in the Olympics — doing that would have been a big thing for me,” he said.

“If I had gone, I would have missed a couple of Arsenal games at least and the boss didn’t want that. 

“I wish I did go but at the end of the day I did what the boss wanted and I am happy to be where I am. If I hadn’t gone, I might not be where I am now.”

Iwobi has already featured four times in the Premier League and once in the Champions League, with his most recent appearance coming against title rivals Chelsea in a match that Arsenal not only won by 3-0, but the 20-year-old was awarded Man of the Match.

The young forward is going from strength to strength and if Wenger did prevent him from going to Rio 2016, although I can understand his disappointment, he’s right when he insinuated that it could have hampered his progress. The boss wouldn’t have requested he stay in the UK just to be annoying, he would have a valid reason.

Hopefully, Iwobi can continue to develop and excel.