Arsenal’s manager, Unai Emery has hailed the impact of Super Eagles of Nigeria winger, Alex Iwobi at the club this season.
Iwobi who signed a new long-term contract with Gunners before the start of the current campaign has shone under the Spaniard making impact from the bench in some games.
The 22-year-old replaced former Germany international, Mesut Ozil at half time during Arsenal’s 1-1 away at Brighton on Wednesday.
Emery defended the decision during his interaction with the media on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s crucial away clash against Liverpool at the Anfield Stadium.
“It is one decision tactically, and also the decision is because we have [done] it before because we have a lot of matches away when it tactically changes something, not for the player but for the team,”Emery told reporters.
“A lot of the matches when we play in the second half, for example Iwobi, it helps us with a different situation tactically and helps us to win the matches. In other matches, when we changed for the second half we took the performance to go to win.
“Yesterday (Wednesday ) intention was the same, it is tactically to change one player for another and with our analysis before that in other matches, in the second-half sessions is the reason I do that. But for me, it is only tactically and not [down to the] player, and for me every player is the same.
“Sometimes I change Aubameyang, sometimes I change Lacazette and sometimes I change Matteo – it happens to every player and sometimes the result is good and the other times it doesn’t give us the result on the pitch. But the decision is only tactical.”
Iwobi has made 16 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season, scoring twice.
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