Arsene Wenger says that the Football Association did not push hard enough to secure Arsenal's Alex Iwobi for the England national team.

As Standard Sport revealed when Iwobi made his competitive debut for Nigeria in March last year the FA made a late bid to secure the Arsenal forward’s international future.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Lagos but moved to London at the age of four, had come through the England youth setup, playing at Under-16, U17 and U18 level but never featuring for the U21s. Instead he opted to represent the Super Eagles when they first called him up in early October 2015, several weeks before the youngster made his Arsenal debut.

“He had the potential to play for England and for Nigeria,” Wenger said. “Today he looks very happy with Nigeria. When I speak to him, he’s had very positive experiences.

“He brings his quality to Nigeria - he’s absolutely a creative player going forward. He’s very strong in small spaces and he’s starting to score goals as well.

“For a while it was open between England and Nigeria, and England didn’t really push for Alex during that period. Nigeria were more willing to have him. I’ve seen many times that sons of parents from Nigeria want to go back to their parents’ country.”

Iwobi has since made 12 appearances for Nigeria, scoring two goals, including the late winner against Zambia in October that secured his country’s qualification for next summer’s World Cup finals.

Arsenal young guns - Unai Emery's bright prospects 8 show all Arsenal young guns - Unai Emery's bright prospects 1/8 Reiss Nelson The jewel in the crown, and perhaps the most exciting prospect to emerge from Hale End since Jack Wilshere.



Having spent much of last season eviscerating his contemporaries in Premier League 2, his promotion to the first team - where he is viewed as the likely successor to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - has been inevitable for some time.



Naturally an attacking winger, Wenger’s pet project may well be converting Nelson into a buccaneering right wing-back, having played him in that position both in pre-season games as well as Europa League and EFL Cup ties. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/8 Emile Smith Rowe Part of the England Under-17 side that won the World Cup in India Smith Rowe has established himself as another star in the making since his move infield to play in the centre of the Arsenal youth sides.



His magnificent ball control was on display in an FA Youth Cup semi-final win over Blackpool, when he beat six defenders on a run from his own half only to be denied a brilliant goal when he was fouled for a penalty he subsequently scored. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/8 Eddie Nketiah A goal machine at youth level, Nketiah faces as tough a challenge as any youngster in finding any significant opportunities in Wenger’s overloaded frontline. But with 27 goals in 39 youth games, he is making a convincing case.



Once of Chelsea, Nketiah is now an increasingly familiar name on the Arsenal bench and has caught Wenger’s eye.



The coach said of Nketiah: "I like the quality of Eddie’s movement, the quality of the areas he gets into, his strength, his determination to finish things off and his work rate as well. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/8 Joe Willock The last of the Willock clan left at Arsenal, with Matty having joined Manchester United in 2012 and the highly-rated Chris having been nabbed by Benfica on a free transfer this summer.



A rangy midfielder capable of pushing play forward from deep midfield, his growing prominence was reflected in Wenger’s decision to name Willock, and not Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, alongside Aaron Ramsey in the Emirates Cup. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/8 Charlie Gilmour Part of the Arsenal setup since the age of six, Scottish youth international Gilmour is another natural central midfielder who is inspired by one of the greats in his position.



"I use both feet and am developing my skills with Santi [Cazorla] as a model," he said. "Santi has such quick feet and can go in any direction - that’s why opponents don’t know what he’s going to do.



"Santi has so much footballing talent but he also has the talent to use it. He gives everything for every minute of every game. That’s why I admire him so much." Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/8 Matt Macey Macey first appeared in Arsenal squads as early as November 2014 and has spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town, for whom he made 11 appearances.



The 6ft 7in keeper is established as Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper with Emiliano Martinez out on loan, though he is unlikely to be given many opportunities unless Petr Cech and David Ospina are injured. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/8 Xavier Amaechi Amaechi signed his first professional contract at the soonest possible moment, his 17th birthday, proof of the regard in which he is held at Hale End.



The winger is blessed with explosive pace to rival the likes of Hector Bellerin and has shown he is no slouch in front of goal, scoring a stunning strike in a win against Tottenham U18s in November 2017. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Tyreece John-Jules John-Jules played a starring role in Arsenal's run to the 2018 FA Youth Cup Final, scoring in the semi-finals, quarters and round of 16.



The youngster grew up idolising Thierry Henry and briefly worked alongside his hero in the Arsenal youth setup, seemingly learning how to finish instinctively from the master. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/8 Reiss Nelson The jewel in the crown, and perhaps the most exciting prospect to emerge from Hale End since Jack Wilshere.



Having spent much of last season eviscerating his contemporaries in Premier League 2, his promotion to the first team - where he is viewed as the likely successor to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - has been inevitable for some time.



Naturally an attacking winger, Wenger’s pet project may well be converting Nelson into a buccaneering right wing-back, having played him in that position both in pre-season games as well as Europa League and EFL Cup ties. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/8 Emile Smith Rowe Part of the England Under-17 side that won the World Cup in India Smith Rowe has established himself as another star in the making since his move infield to play in the centre of the Arsenal youth sides.



His magnificent ball control was on display in an FA Youth Cup semi-final win over Blackpool, when he beat six defenders on a run from his own half only to be denied a brilliant goal when he was fouled for a penalty he subsequently scored. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/8 Eddie Nketiah A goal machine at youth level, Nketiah faces as tough a challenge as any youngster in finding any significant opportunities in Wenger’s overloaded frontline. But with 27 goals in 39 youth games, he is making a convincing case.



Once of Chelsea, Nketiah is now an increasingly familiar name on the Arsenal bench and has caught Wenger’s eye.



The coach said of Nketiah: "I like the quality of Eddie’s movement, the quality of the areas he gets into, his strength, his determination to finish things off and his work rate as well. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/8 Joe Willock The last of the Willock clan left at Arsenal, with Matty having joined Manchester United in 2012 and the highly-rated Chris having been nabbed by Benfica on a free transfer this summer.



A rangy midfielder capable of pushing play forward from deep midfield, his growing prominence was reflected in Wenger’s decision to name Willock, and not Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, alongside Aaron Ramsey in the Emirates Cup. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 5/8 Charlie Gilmour Part of the Arsenal setup since the age of six, Scottish youth international Gilmour is another natural central midfielder who is inspired by one of the greats in his position.



"I use both feet and am developing my skills with Santi [Cazorla] as a model," he said. "Santi has such quick feet and can go in any direction - that’s why opponents don’t know what he’s going to do.



"Santi has so much footballing talent but he also has the talent to use it. He gives everything for every minute of every game. That’s why I admire him so much." Arsenal FC via Getty Images 6/8 Matt Macey Macey first appeared in Arsenal squads as early as November 2014 and has spent time on loan at Accrington Stanley, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town, for whom he made 11 appearances.



The 6ft 7in keeper is established as Arsenal’s third-choice goalkeeper with Emiliano Martinez out on loan, though he is unlikely to be given many opportunities unless Petr Cech and David Ospina are injured. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 7/8 Xavier Amaechi Amaechi signed his first professional contract at the soonest possible moment, his 17th birthday, proof of the regard in which he is held at Hale End.



The winger is blessed with explosive pace to rival the likes of Hector Bellerin and has shown he is no slouch in front of goal, scoring a stunning strike in a win against Tottenham U18s in November 2017. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Tyreece John-Jules John-Jules played a starring role in Arsenal's run to the 2018 FA Youth Cup Final, scoring in the semi-finals, quarters and round of 16.



The youngster grew up idolising Thierry Henry and briefly worked alongside his hero in the Arsenal youth setup, seemingly learning how to finish instinctively from the master. Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“When I actually scored the moment was crazy, I remember running off celebrating,” Iwobi said. “I almost cried, I actually almost cried to see how the fans were reacting, to see my mum and dad in the stands, it was just an amazing feeling.

“It’s always an honour to wear the green, white and green, I mean I’ve seen so many kids on the street when we’re in the bus, they’re screaming “go Nigeria, go Nigeria”, so to represent them I’m just proud.”