Arsenal midfielder Alex Iwobi insists he’s still the same person he always was, despite his rise to fame for the Gunners in recent seasons.

The rise of Alex Iwobi has been quick and also unexpected. A decent player in the academy set-up, the 21-year-old was rated but never earmarked as a potential first-team player. Then came 2015/16, and all the sudden Iwobi was playing first-team football for Arsenal, scoring against Everton and impressing against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Despite all that, Iwobi has said he hasn’t changed much. “I still hang with the same friends when they’re back from uni, every time after training I still go home and sleep,” he told Arsenal Player. “Nothing’s really changed, just playing in the first team I guess. I do get recognised more, people are like ‘ahhh’.

“Two years ago you could just come in, I’d normally go back to my old area and play in my cage and no one would bother me. But if I go and play in my cage now – ‘ahhh Alex Iwobi’s here’. I’m still getting used to that. I still feel I’m the same as my friends and the same person from two years ago, but people are like ‘do you know what you’ve done?’”

A common story in football is young players becoming rich and famous before they have the maturity to handle it. The result is a lifestyle documented by tabloids and a career going off the tracks. Hence, it’s encouraging to hear that Iwobi is keeping himself grounded and avoiding the flashy life of a celebrity.

“Obviously I was lucky to have an uncle that played football, so he still gives me advice from time to time, but my mum and dad keep me grounded. The more I’m progressing, the more money, the more the fame comes with it, but they’re helping me invest because football is a really short career.

“They’re also making me think about life outside of football as well a bit more, but I’m not one to go spending and living a flashy lifestyle, I try to keep as humble as I can and I’m still the same. That’s what I’m going to keep on saying, I’m still the same person as I was two years ago.”

Iwobi had a good pre-season and will now be looking to get into the Arsenal first-team again after he fell away towards the end of last season. There’s a lot of competition for those two attacking spots behind the striker, but he’ll get his chance again should he continue to impress.