Alex Iwobi has revealed that Arsenal almost released him.

• Iwobi is a product of the Arsenal academy
• Made 57 senior appearances for club since 2015
• Reveals he was almost released

Iwobi has been speaking with Arsenal’s matchday programme ahead the Gunner’s Premier League clash against Leicester at the Emirates and revealed that although he was almost released, like many other Young Guns, it’s made him stronger.

“Well, my journey so far has been a bumpy ride, so it’s something I look back on and say to myself, ‘If I can overcome things that I believe were worse than what’s going on now, then surely I should be able to overcome this’,” Iwobi answered when asked about what motivates him when he’s low.

“Yes, it’s tough, especially for the ones who almost get released, which I unfortunately had to go through. It makes you stronger.

“If you’re good enough and you apply the work that needs to be done and put in maximum effort then you’ll come through it.”

Although Iwobi hasn’t been seeing as much football as he was at the beginning of the season, the 20-year-old has still made 24 Premier League appearances this term.

The forward is probably in a comfortable position right now as Arsenal see his potential and want to keep hold of him but, given his age, there’s not a lot of pressure to perform week in, week out.

When he’s feeling strong or the team needs rotating, against Leicester perhaps, Arsene Wenger will give him the nod, knowing he can trust him to put a shift in. However, the rest of the time, he can just learn from the players around him.

His current Arsenal deal doesn’t run out until 2020.

Arsenal’s matchday programme is available via the #COYG app, which you can download for free from iTunes or Google Play.