​ Arsenal star Alex Iwobi broke into the Gunners first-team in magnificent style towards the end of last season but the young forward has revealed that his career path could easily have been so different after he was nearly released by the club as a teenager.





Asked whether he thought it was 'inevitable' he would play for the Arsenal first-team after joining the academy at a very young age, the humble Iwobi admitted that he used to question his ability.





It was only later on that he began to make the real progress that has put him where he is today.

"I was on trial at six, and I think I was eight when I signed," he explained in an interview with the latest issue of Arsenal Magazine.









"I nearly got released when I was 13 or 14, so back then I really didn't think I would make it here," the Nigerian international went on to say.





"There was a stage when I wasn't playing up above my age group, but all the better players were. I questioned myself a lot at that age about whether I was good enough, but I eventually got through it."





"They did keep me on and I guess since then that's when I really kicked on. I played in the Nike Cup (youth tournament) shortly after that, and then England (Under-16) called me up and things started moving."

After rising through the youth ranks, Iwobi, who turned 20 years of age last month, made his senior bow for Arsenal in October 2015 and then started his first game in January 2016 - an FA Cup tie against Sunderland.





The youngster then marked his first two Premier League starts with goals and impressed on his full Champions League on the grandest of stages - against reigning champions Barcelona at Camp Nou.

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