Arsenal to block Iwobi from Olympics

-Arsenal face a club-vs-country row as they

plan to stop Alex Iwobi from representing

Nigeria at this summer's Olympics.



-Earlier this month, Dream Team V1 coach

Samson Siasia travelled to London to speak

with his players and secure their club release

for the tournament.

-Arsene Wenger said in April that he would

allow Iwobi to join up with his country, even

though it would mean that the 20-year-old

would miss the start of the new season.

But in his latest talks with Arsenal, Siasia

now claims that the Gunners are ready to

make a U-turn on their decision.

"I went to Arsenal and I saw Richard Law

and he said that we still need to look at the

possibilities of the player going to the

Olympics or not," Siasia told Goal.

"He said that he wants Iwobi to stay with

Arsenal because they are having a new team

and Alex is getting to play in the team for

now.

"He said if he leaves to play for Nigeria at

the Olympics how is he going to be a part of

the team and maybe someone is going to

take his position.

"I said, well we have to meet half way

because we are trying to give Alex a platform

to show himself in the Olympics and he has

to look at it that way too.

"He said we should continue to talk and we

would see what we would do."

Despite Arsenal's protests during

negotiations, Goal understands that Iwobi is

still confident that he will be allowed to

represent Nigeria, who face Sweden,

Colombia and Japan in the group stage in

August.

"The long and short of it is that Alex will be

going to the Olympics. Wenger gave his

words on the matter so there's nothing to

worry about," a source close to the situation

said.