Alex Iwobi has revealed that he was asked to take a penalty by manager Álvaro Arbeloa during Fulham’s 2-1 victory over Farense in the club’s final pre-season fixture of their training camp in Portugal.
Fulham fell behind in the first half but Iwobi restored parity in the second half after Emile Smith Rowe was brought down inside the penalty area.
The former Arsenal midfielder calmly stepped up and dispatched the resulting spot kick into the corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Arbeloa has to appoint a new designated penalty taker ahead of the forthcoming season, following the return of Raúl Jiménez to Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.
The Mexico legend holds the Premier League record for most penalties taken without missing, scoring all 14 of his spot kicks for Wolves and Fulham.
Iwobi has admitted that taking penalties has not traditionally been one of his responsibilities.
“Summer was good. I have already been on pre-season with Fulham in Portugal, and that was good. We got one win and one draw,” Iwobi said on the Alexander Yaa Digg podcast.
“I was able to get one assist and one goal. I have never really been a penalty taker, but I’d like to say my conversion rate with penalties has improved.
“The gaffer said, ‘Alex, Alex, take the pen’ and I was like, ‘Say no more’, and slotted it in.”
Iwobi has never scored a penalty goal in his Premier League career, with his 35 strikes coming from open play.
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