Arsenal remain willing to allow Alex Iwobi to compete at the Rio Olympics despite claims to the contrary emanating from Nigeria.
Iwobi, 20, was at the centre of a high-profile tug of war between England, whom he represented at youth level, and his birth country, Nigeria, earlier in the year.
The forward was to choose the Super Eagles, making his competitive debut in March despite a late bid from the FA to convince him to change his allegiance.
Head Coach of the Dream Team, Samson Siasia, claimed on Wednesday he had been told by Arsenal executive, Richard Law, that the club intended to block Iwobi’s participation in the Olympics.
Siasia said: “[Law] 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.”
However reports claimed Arsenal have no such objection to Iwobi’s participation in the Olympics football tournament, which runs between August 4 and 20.
At this stage, the Gunners will leave any decision on his participation to Iwobi himself, reports said.
The forward started nine of Arsenal’s final 10 games of the season and looked at ease against high-profile opponents such as Barcelona and Manchester City.
Though he will remain a key part of Wenger’s squad next season, the club are relatively well-stocked in his usual position on the right flank and would expect to be able to cope in Iwobi’s absence.
Arsene Wenger offered his support for Iwobi should he choose to play at the Olympics. “He had the choice between England and Nigeria and in the end he chose Nigeria,” he said.
“We respect that, and also the possibility that he will go to the Olympic Games, that he will also go to the Africa Cup of Nations and travel a bit more than he would have done here.”
Clubs can choose to block any of their players from participating in the Olympics, which falls outside Fifa’s approved calendar for international fixtures.