Alex Iwobi has been like a new signing for Arsenal this season.

In stark contrast to last campaign, where he became a source of frustration for fans, the Nigerian has been integral with his speed, skill and directness.

Arsenal lacked that injection of pace down the flanks after losing Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez in January, but now Iwobi is finally stepping up and being counted.

Monday's 3-1 win over Leicester City saw the 22-year-old awarded Man of the Match despite not scoring or assisting any of the goals - that's how good he was.

Iwobi simply couldn't be tamed at the Emirates Stadium and made Ben Chilwell look very silly on a number of occasions.

So what's changed? Iwobi claims Unai Emery's arrival as manager has given him the freedom to take risks and not worry about making mistakes.

"For me, he has just given me confidence to express myself [and] believe in my ability, which I have been trying to show," said Iwobi.

"Also in training he is always letting me try new things, be positive, be direct and prove it in the game. It is working for me so I just have to keep it going.

"I am more confident, I feel that even if I make a mistake I am able to go again. I think that is the difference between me last year and this year."

Iwobi is finally showing real signs of progress at Arsenal and the forward says he's received a lot of help from none other than Mesut Ozil, who was named captain against Leicester.

Ozil's leadership skills have been brought into question recently, but Iwobi claims the German has been helping him "do more" on the pitch and advised him constantly throughout Monday's win.

"I have been training with him since I was 17 and I have seen what he can do," said Iwobi of Ozil. "The quality he has is not just in training.

"As you can see in the match last night, he is a world-class player and he proved that again. Mesut will come across as laid back but he is helping everyone in a different way and he helps me a lot.

"He gives me advice in a different way: he jokes around but always tell me I can do more - even [against Leicester] he was saying I can do more, he is always one of those guys.

"But he is always happy, always telling me and giving me the confidence to express myself so it helps me."

Ozil will always have his critics, but the 30-year-old's performance against Leicester and advice to Iwobi shows that he's worthy of the captain's armband.