Gatting - Iwobi is a huge threat

Steve Gatting hailed Alex Iwobi’s goalscoring instinct after Arsenal Under-21s’ 1-0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday.

The young Gunners were struggling to break down the visitors until Iwobi pounced at the back post to convert Gedion Zelalem’s low cross and secure three points for Arsenal.

It was the 19-year-old’s fifth goal in his last six games and Gatting is delighted with the forward’s progress.

“Alex played No 9 against Brighton and he is a huge threat,” the manager told Arsenal Player. “He gets in good goalscoring positions but I guess it was one of those goals where it was more difficult to miss.

“It was a good build-up play by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Dan Crowley and Zelalem because we were able to get in behind them and put it back across goal for Iwobi to score.”

Monday’s win ended Arsenal’s run of four consecutive defeats, and Gatting believes his side learnt a valuable lesson against Brighton.

“After four defeats the confidence gets a bit of a knock back and it was a tough game,” the manager explained. “Conditions were a bit bumpy, they defended in numbers and it was a lesson in how to break a team down and not get caught on the break. We did that very well.”