Arsenal youngster, Alex Iwobi, has been named by France Football magazine among the top five African stars in Europe for the past week.
Iwobi provided two assists as Arsenal drew 3-3 with West Ham in a thrilling London derby at the weekend.
The 19-year-old Nigerian international has shone for London Gunners after he was given his chance by manager Arsene Wenger this season.
The other top African stars for the past week are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cedric Bakambu from DR Congo, Salomon Kalou of Cote d’Ivoire and Algeria’s Hicham Belkaroui.
Salah netted an equaliser for Roma against Bologna, Bakambu aka ‘Bakambut’ was on target in both the Europa League and La Liga for Villarreal in the week under review and Kalou scored his 14th goal for Hertha Berlin against Hannover in the German Bundesliga.
The youngster has been impressive for the Gunners this season.
Alex Iwobi’s first Premier League goal against Everton helped him feel relaxed in the first-team, he has told the club’s official website.
The youngster has been handed his first-team chance this season having previously impressed in the club’s youth ranks.
He has taken his chance with both hands as well, scoring on his first Premier League start against Everton and then adding to that in the win over Watford.
Indeed, Iwobi’s performances have made him a regular in recent weeks as Arsene Wenger opts for him ahead of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott.
And Iwobi admits that he needed that first goal against the Toffees to help him feel relaxed in the senior setup at Arsenal.
“That moment was crazy!” he told Arsenal Player.
“When Hector got the ball and I saw the space, I just tried to sprint for my life. Thank God Hector found me, I got the ball and scored. I can’t describe the feeling, I started losing my head.
“I already felt at home [in the team] but that goal made me a bit more confident, made me try a few more things and made me feel a bit more relaxed so I was happy to get it.”
The youngster will now be hoping he is handed further chances to impress between now and the end of the season.
At present there is certainly no reason for him to be dropped just yet, having arguably looked more dangerous than Giroud and Walcott in recent weeks.
Indeed, Wenger has admitted he has been impressed by the youngster, and given he was a star once again in the 3-3 draw with West Ham last weekend, it seems he is unlikely to be dropped any time soon.
