Fulham and Nigeria star Alex Iwobi<\/a> has revealed that Unai Emery never wanted him to leave Arsenal \u2014 but the club\u2019s hierarchy decided otherwise in a move driven by business rather than football, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Iwobi, a product of Arsenal\u2019s<\/a> famed Hale End Academy, made his senior debut under Ars\u00e8ne Wenger and featured regularly during the Frenchman\u2019s final seasons.<\/p>\n When Emery arrived as Wenger\u2019s successor in 2018, the Nigerian<\/a> midfielder enjoyed his most prominent spell in an Arsenal shirt \u2014 making 51 appearances in all competitions during the 2018\/19 season, scoring six goals and providing nine assists.<\/p>\n That campaign culminated in a Europa League final against Chelsea<\/a>, where Iwobi came off the bench to score a fine goal in a big defeat.<\/p>\n But despite being a trusted figure in Emery\u2019s plans, Iwobi was sold to Everton in the summer of 2019 shortly after helping Nigeria win bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n Speaking on The Inside Scoop<\/a> podcast, Iwobi recalled how Emery confided in him after the transfer \u2014 revealing that he never wanted the move to happen.<\/p>\n \u201cI was staying in a hotel at the time (after joining Everton). Arsenal must have played Liverpool and were staying in my hotel. I come back from training and I see the whole team having lunch. I\u2019ve gone to say hello and I spoke to Unai Emery,\u201d Iwobi said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe said: \u2018Listen, Alex, this is football. I didn\u2019t want you to go. The last game was the Europa League final, I had you in my plans. You have always been someone who was willing to work for the team. I didn\u2019t want you to go, but at the end of the day, this is business.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI said: \u2018Yeah, there\u2019s no hard feelings, it\u2019s fine.\u2019 He spoke to me on a level, that\u2019s why I respect him. I\u2019ll always have respect for Unai Emery.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n READ MORE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Iwobi was on holiday preparing to return to pre-season with Arsenal when he was informed that Everton had submitted a \u00a340 million offer \u2014 and that the Gunners had already sent his medical records to the Merseyside club. Although the move came as a shock, he reluctantly agreed to the switch.<\/p>\n Arsenal had just completed the record signing of Nicolas P\u00e9p\u00e9 and needed to balance their finances. Iwobi, a player with market value but not guaranteed a starting place, became the casualty.<\/p>\n Since then, Iwobi has rebuilt his Premier League career. He made 123 league appearances for Everton before joining Fulham in 2023, where he has become a key figure under Marco Silva.<\/p>\n In the 2024\/25 season, he featured in all 37 of Fulham\u2019s Premier League games so far, starting 35 times, scoring nine goals and providing six assists.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Gj2CUUDXkAEgLAb.jpeg\")
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\u2018This is business’\u2013 Nigeria\u2019s Alex Iwobi shares cute Unai Emery hotel story about Arsenal exit<\/h3>\n
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