Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi has addressed breaking the Premier League record previously held by Chelsea legend Mikel Obi. Iwobi surpassed Mikel’s record for the most minutes played by a Nigerian player in Premier League history during Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Newcastle United in matchday 32 of the previous season.
His appearance in that specific match elevated his total minutes played in the English top-flight to 16,289 minutes, eclipsing Mikel’s tally during his time with Chelsea. Since his debut season with Arsenal in 2015-16, the 28-year-old has been a prominent figure for Arsenal, Everton, and currently Fulham in the Premier League.
“That’s [breaking Mikel’s record] crazy, but I’m not trying to stop. I’m trying to increase that, keep going, and whoever is going to come for that title has got to put in hard work.
“That’s a big achievement because John Obi Mikel is a legend in the game. The fact that I’ve played with him makes me feel old. He was actually my idol at one point. He’s a legend,” Iwobi said.
