Former Nigerian youth international, Eddy Lord Dombraye, has warned people not to put too much pressure on Alex Iwobi as the Arsenal youngster starts to make his mark on world football.
Bursting on to the scene this season, Iwobi already seems set to increase his wages from £750-a-week to around £30,000 if recent reports are to be believed. What is certain is that a new deal is on the way.
Expectations are rising with every performance and it’s not hard to see why.
He’s quick, strong, skilful and intelligent.
He looks like the full package and it’s easy to forget that he’s just 19 and only just being exposed to football at the top level.
Already playing for his country in a full international, the weight on Iwobi’s shoulder is building.
“Nigerians should not put pressure on him. I mean the media should stop trying to compare the little boy with his big uncle Jay Jay Okocha,” Dombraye told Punch in Nigeria.
“He can fill the shoes of Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, but should not compare him to because it will put the young player under pressure.
“We should let the young man enjoy himself on the pitch and we will get the best out of him. He is very talented, and his positioning is wonderful for a player of his age.”
Iwobi is expected to start again for Arsenal this weekend as they travel to West Ham in what is, remarkably, a crucial game for both sides at the top end of the table.
Arsenal will be hoping for revenge for the opening day defeat and this side will certainly offer a different threat to Slaven Bilic’s men than the weak effort we saw when the league got underway.