One of Europe’s hottest strikers reveals he is a life-long Arsenal fan

One of Europe’s most promising younger strikers has revealed that he’s a life-long Arsenal fan and lumped reward on Napoli star Victor Osimhen who has additionally been linked with the London membership.

The Gunners have fallen off the tempo of Liverpool within the Premier League title race, dropping to fourth within the desk with a five-point hole separating each side. 

Mikel Arteta‘s facet haven’t been scientific sufficient in entrance of aim this season, having scored solely 37 objectives. For perspective, Liverpool and Aston Villa in first and second have scored 43 whereas Man City, in third have scored 45. 

As the Gunners are on the hunt for a brand new striker, Bayer leverkusen’s promising younger star has revealed that he has been a life-long fan of the north London membership on John Obi Mikel’s The Obi One Podcast. 

The 23-year-old is broadly considered probably the most promising forwards in european soccer, having rating 16 objectives in 23 appearances throughout all competitions for the German facet up to now this season. 

High-flying Leverkusen are unbeaten this season within the German high flight, with Granit Xhaka having joined the membership from Arsenal in the summertime. 

And earlier than lauding the impression that the ex-Gunners midfielder has had on the facet, Boniface unveiled: ‘For me, proper from a younger age I’ve supported Arsenal all my life.’

He added on the Swiss midfielder: ‘He has expertise, maturity and he is a high high skilled.’

Xhaka performed for the membership between 2016 and 2023, amassing 297 appearances for the premier League membership whereas additionally captaining the facet on quite a few events.

He went on to go away the membership final summer time, transferring to Bayer Leverkusen, the place he would meet up with the 23-year-old striker.

‘We have a younger squad however with Granit, it looks like we have been enjoying for a very long time as a result of he talks to us and tries to assist us,’ he added.  

Ex-Chelsea star Mikel added that he too had been a fan of the Gunners when he was rising up with the Nigerian claiming: ‘I grew supporting Arsenal due to one particular person, Nwankwo Kanu.’

‘I liked watching Arsenal due to Kanu. It’s that factor that the place a Nigerian participant performs, you are inclined to assist your individual. Now while you watch the children arising, everyone, due to me, Victor Moses, everyone has moved to Chelsea.’ 

On Monday, it was reported that Boniface could be withdrawing from this mont’s Africa Cup of Nations after being called-up to the competitors by Nigeria. 

The ahead had suffered a groin harm in coaching that has dominated him out of the competitors, with Boniface writing on Instagram: ”Good luck guys. Wish you guys all the very best at afcon @ng_supereagles.’

Boniface has earned 4 caps for Nigeria, however his absence at AFCON will likely be an enormous blow for the Super Eagles. 

Despite that, Nigeria’s entrance line will likely be lead by Arsenal goal Osimhen. Arteta’s facet have been linked with Osimhen for a while, now and had been dealt a blow of their bid to signal the £112m-rated striker after it was reported that he had ‘signed a brand new deal to remain on the Serie A facet till 2026’. 

Even so, Boniface spoke out on the connection he has with Osimhen, claiming the ahead, who has eight objectives in 18 video games throughout all competitions this season, is ‘like a brother’ to him. 

‘We are good buddies and we communicate usually with one another,’ Boniface informed The Obi One Podcast.

‘I respect Victor rather a lot and I see him as a brother, he is a high man. It all depends upon the coach. The followers preserve saying that hopefully Nigeria will play Victor and Boniface, however we simply wish to symbolize our nation. When it is an awesome nation like Nigeria, you must combat for the nation, that is a very powerful factor.

‘Victor would not thoughts who he performs with and I do not thoughts who I play with. I simply wish to assist my workforce, similar as Victor. But if we are able to play collectively, will probably be nice for us.’

Leverkusen, in the meantime, have climbed their approach to the highest of the Bunesliga desk this season, with Xabi Alonso’s facet dazzling within the competitors up to now this season. 

And Boniface lauded the spanish supervisor, saying: ‘What an awesome coach.’

‘Everybody knew him as an awesome participant, he [Alonso] was incredible and received every part in soccer. He’s actually helped me rather a lot and tried to advise me. 

‘He gave me the instance of (Didier) Drogba, saying he was large and powerful, and he desires the identical from me.’

Alonso joined the soccer membership again in October 2022, having beforehand held the supervisor’s place at Real Sociedad.  

Boniface added: ‘He was attempting to place that sort of mentality in my head as a result of I’m the kind of man who simply desires to have recreation. Even if I’m not scoring, it would not matter so long as we’re profitable. But he desires to attempt to change that mentality, for me to grow to be a fighter. He’s a high, high coach.

‘He’s at all times calm. I feel I’ve solely seen him indignant as soon as. It was towards Dortmund and we had been shedding within the first half. We got here again into the dressing room and he was screaming.’

‘The method he desires us to play is not nearly people,’ Boniface explains. ‘That’s why, with a participant like (Alex) Grimaldo, generally you see him in midfield, generally you see him on the wing, so even when we’re not enjoying in our place he desires us to assist the workforce. We should put the workforce first.

‘After my first three video games with Leverkusen, I stated to Jeremie (Frimpong): ‘Bro, I do not even know what formation we’re enjoying as a result of generally I see you at right-back, generally I see you as a wing-back.’ 

‘But so long as we’re maintaining the ball and do not lose it too simply, then we’ve a participant like Granit within the engine room for us to speak with, as a result of he is been enjoying for a very long time and we are the younger guys he is attempting to assist.

‘The remainder of us are simply attempting to benefit from the second. He at all times says to us to maintain the ball at all times. Even in coaching we do a number of possession drills so we are able to get to know one another extra through the recreation.’