Alex Iwobi Shows Our Club’s Value – Wenger

Alexis Sanchez’s early goal put Arsenal in charge at the Emirates Stadium before Alex Iwobi marked a fine display with the second. Second-half goals from Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott completed the win.

Iwobi has now scored in successive games, either side of his competitive debut for Nigeria, and Wenger believes the teenager’s emergence reflects the importance that his club place on youth development.

“We have values in our club that are maybe not rated always, but one of them is to give a chance to young people and educate them,” he said.

“Every year we bring players out and not many players can say that. I’m happy Alex is one of them. He arrived here at the age of seven or eight. He’s completely integrated in the way we want to play football.

“He’s worked with us since the start of the season and it shows because when he came in he was used to the way we want to play.

“He’s also very mobile and is a midfielder with creativity, but is also a finisher. The quality of his receptions is very good because he gets into good spaces.”

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores warned that his side cannot afford to allow the looming FA Cup semifinal with Crystal Palace to distract them from their bid to confirm Premier League safety.

“It is important not to confuse the targets,” he said.

“The semi of the FA Cup is a real situation we want to live in the future. We have to live in the present and in six days we play against Everton.

“This is our target. If we think about what happens in three weeks, we are making a big, big mistake.”