Alex Iwobi says player Arsenal released on a free is the best he's ever played with

Alex Iwobi has described a former Arsenal teammate as the best player he's ever played with, five years after he was released by the Gunners on a free.

At the end of the 2017/18 season, fan-favourite Santi Cazorla followed Arsene Wenger out of the door at Arsenal following an impressive six-year spell in North London.

The Spanish midfielder, who signed from La Liga side Malaga for £10 million, endured a tough end to his Premier League career after picking up a serious injury to his Achilles.

In fact, Cazorla didn't feature for the Gunners for almost two years following several operations on his Achilles tendon, with one requiring a skin graft from his arm.

"I am very sad to be leaving after so many great times," Cazorla said after the news was announced. "I have loved my time with the club and our time together and the special moments we have shared."

The former Spain international certainly left a lasting legacy with both the Arsenal faithful and his teammates, including Alex Iwobi, who has handed Cazorla the biggest compliment anybody could give.

Speaking to YouTube channel Voice of Nigeria VON this week, the Fulham winger said: "The best player I have played with is Santi Cazorla when I was at Arsenal."

Iwobi has previously name-dropped Cazorla when he was asked to name the top five footballers he has played with so far in his career.

“The first one is Santi Cazorla; he was crazy. When he comes to the pitch and touches the ball, it’s like he’s blessing the ball," he said on an Instagram Live with Don Dada.

“I always say this one, Glen Kamara, the most underrated footballer. I remember back in the day me and him in midfield for our youth team.

“Number 3, just because I played with him from young so the chemistry whenever we play, Chuba. We never got to express it for Arsenal. Even now, I am hoping he gets a call-up for Nigeria because of the chemistry.

“Four is Ozil; he was crazy. Obviously, because of his body language, people think he’s not working hard, but he actually works hard. People judge it wrong.

“They are going to find this a bit weird, but I’m going to say Francis Coquelin. I have been lucky to play with world-class players."

Image credit: Getty

Last year, another of one Cazorla's former teammates, Jack Wilshere, agreed with Iwobi's statement by saying he was the best player he'd ever played alongside.

"He could use both feet, he was only 5ft 5ins and he would just run between players and he was a joy to watch," Wilshere told talkSPORT.

And former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was full of praise for the Spaniard in May 2015.

"He's a fantastic example that no matter how tall you are, it's about how good you are. He's a very intelligent player and he also shows how important it is to be right and left-footed in midfield," Wenger said.

"He's a good example of how we should educate young players who play in midfield to be able to use their right and left foot."