Everton's Alex Iwobi is hoping to use the advice given to him by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to pour misery on the current Gunners side.
With fellow Emirates old boy Theo Walcott an injury doubt for the Blues for their trip to north London having gone off injured in the first half of their 3-1 home win over Crystal Palace in their previous fixture some 15 days ago, Iwobi has his eyes on a potential recall to the starting line-up.
The Nigerian international joined Arsenal while still in primary school and spent some 15 years at the club between 2004-19 before his transfer to Merseyside on deadline day last summer which could be worth up to £34million.
However, when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park on December 21 with respective new managers Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta both watching on, Iwobi, for the first time facing the team where he had spent most of his life, limped out of the 0-0 draw just 11 minutes into the contest with a hamstring injury which would keep him sidelined for six weeks.
He told the Sunday Mirror: “I had never been injured before, so I’m asking why is this happening against Arsenal and why with the new manager watching?”
After netting twice in his first three games for Everton, Iwobi has gone 18 matches without a goal and acknowledges there'd be no better time to end his drought than at the ground he called home for so many years.
The 23-year-old is focusing on the advice given to him by Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer Thierry Henry as he looks to get back on the scoresheet against another of his former mentors, Arteta, who used to be his captain at the Emirates.
Iwobi said: “Growing up I’d go for nutmegs, try to embarrass my friends.
“Thierry told me that attackers are remembered for goals and assists, and I needed to get that in my head. Something clicked.
“Mikel was another big influence. He was injured at the time and would play and train with the Under-21s. He would talk to me, telling me to get on the half-turn, stay alert and sharp, ready to make an impact.
“Uncle Jay-Jay (Okocha, Iwobi's mother is the former Bolton player's sister) encouraged me to enjoy it. If you make a mistake, try again. I have stuck by that and will never hide.
“Now it’s up to me to make a name for myself at Everton.”
