“He started it off for us” — Smith Rowe hails Alex Iwobi as an inspirational legend

By Monsurah Olatunji

Arsenal graduate Emile Smith Rowe has expressed his admiration for Alex Iwobi, describing him as a “legend” for the younger generation of players who came through the club’s academy.

While Smith Rowe had the privilege of playing alongside world-class footballers like Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it was Iwobi, one of the brightest talents to emerge from Arsenal’s Hale End academy, who left a lasting impression on him.

Iwobi made his debut under Arsene Wenger in 2015 and went on to make over 140 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 15 goals and providing 29 assists.

Though his time at the Emirates may not have reached the heights many anticipated, his impact on the academy players who followed was significant.

Now playing for Fulham, Smith Rowe reunited with Iwobi and praised him for being a trailblazer for young players.

“For me, he’s like a legend,” Smith Rowe told Sky Sports.

“Just in terms of looking up to him from the time I’ve been at Arsenal. He kind of started it off for us young players, breaking through to the first team.”

Smith Rowe acknowledged that while Iwobi may not yet be seen as a legend in the traditional sense due to his age, his influence on the younger generation is undeniable.

“He’s inspirational,” Smith Rowe added. “Off the pitch as well, he’s a really cool guy. It’s good to play with him.”