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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Arsenal legend reveals how Emery and Sanllehi could have avoided £35m summer transfer mistake

Arsenal made a mistake by selling Alex Iwobi to Everton during the summer transfer window.

That's according to ex-Gunners striker Nwankwo Kanu.

Despite being a regular under Unai Emery last season as well as netting in the Europa League final loss at the hands of Chelsea, the Nigeria international was allowed to leave the Emirates Stadium.

On transfer deadline day last month Iwobi completed a £28m move to the Merseyside outfit in a deal which could potentially be worth £35m.

And Kanu is of the opinion that his former club should have held on to his compatriot.

"I would say they made a mistake, 100 per cent," Kanu told Goal . "Why they let him go, I don’t know. He’s a boy who, in and out, is Arsenal. He always wanted to do his best for the club. He loves the club, but not only that he can play football.

"What he brings week in, week out, the fans need to appreciate that.

"I think he is still young and those are the type of people you want in the team, people who grew up here, who knows everything about the club and wants to die for the club.

"He was one of them, so for us to lose him and to let him go, was a shock. I couldn’t really believe we did it, but that’s football."

Kanu also added that he would have advised Iwobi not to leave Arsenal had the attacking midfielder asked for this thoughts on the transfer.

"It was a surprise to everybody because it happened right at the end of the window," Kanu addded. "If I knew earlier, I could have said to him not to go and that it was better for him to stay.

"I would have said that there was no need for him to go because at Arsenal he will still play.

"He’s that good and he needs to know that.

"I think Arsenal would have been the best place for him because it’s a big club and you want to play in a big club and in Europe. Those are the games you want to play."

Premier League 2019/20 September fixtures

Despite Kanu's comments, Iwobi has made a positive start to life at Everton as he's scored in back-to-back games - both with his head - and looks to be settling in just fine.

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