Image via Nike
After a sensational breakthrough year at Arsenal, Alex Iwobi is one of the new faces of the Premier League and the 20-year-old is now being recognised as a fresh face for Nike, fronting the launch of the brand’s sleek new release, the Nike LunarCharge.
Iwobi is a breath of fresh air in the top flight. Raised in and around London, the forward is living the dream by playing with his boyhood club and representing his ends on and off the pitch.
Like any other person of his age, Iwobi is just as comfortable chopping it up on style, sneakers and music as he is about his not-so-ordinary life as London football’s next big thing.
We caught up with Alex Iwobi as he laced up for the Nike LunarCharge for the first time to speak about London life on and off the pitch.
You’ve been shooting some stuff for the launch of the new Nike Lunar Charge today, what are you thinking about the new sneaker?
They’re new and I’ve never seen anything like them before – they’re extremely comfy and definitely something I’d like to wear.
What do you look for in a pair of sneakers?
I’m a plain and simple guy, as long as it’s black it’s pretty much going to be something I’d like to wear. I’m recently trying to add more colour, but black is still my go to colourway.
What’s your sneaker collection like?
I would like to have a huge collection but everytime I add a pair my mum tells me I need to get rid of a pair! I like to have Air Maxes and Air Force 1s, I’m trying to collect more and more.
Have you always had a passion for footwear?
Of course, when I was younger I always wanted to have the newest Air Force 1s but my budget wasn’t too good back then! I always stuck with the white or black AF1s.
How would you describe your personal style off the pitch?
I’m just chilled out, you’ll always catch me in a mad tracksuit. Normally a black tracksuit, I’m not really an out there person. Some people can make a khaki Nike tracksuit work, I don’t know if I’m there yet…
Is there anyone in the Arsenal dressing room that you feel rocks their look particularly well?
I don’t know if it’s safe for me to say the worst, I won’t come into that dressing room safe! Chuba dresses nice, he comes in with clothes that I’ve never seen before and Hector dresses well – but he’s got his own personal stylist so I think he’s cheating!
How about growing up in London, how did you look back then?
I always wanted to come across as a relaxed person and when I was playing out in the streets I’d be always in my tracksuit, I’ve always stayed the same!
Is playing football on the streets how you came to fall in love with the game?
I was always playing for a team, either a Sunday team or the Arsenal academy.
That must have been quite the difference, going from playing with your mates one day to playing with Arsenal the next?
The more I was growing up, yeah. When I was younger I just played football for the fun of it, scoring the maddest goals and trying to come up with new tricks but when you’ve got to take yourself into a proper match, you’ve got be serious. When you play with your friends you don’t really care if you lose the ball but when it’s a serious match, you’ve got to know when to not do certain things.
You’re quite an expressive player who likes the ball at his feet. Do you credit that to playing on the streets or developing in an academy?
Nothing compares to playing against real opponents but playing in a tight area, teaches you about playing with the ball close to your feet.
How much pride do you take in playing for a London club, a team that you essentially grew up with?
I just feel like everyone else when I’m with my mates but when it’s off season and I’m not playing, I realise how much I’ve achieved and it’s slightly mad.
What are your favourite memories of growing up in London?
I liked the fact that if I wanted to play football, it was just right there. Whether it was a cage or a park, I could always just go there with my friends.
Nike LunarCharge is available now at Nike.com.
