Nigeria international Alex Iwobi says Spanish playmaker Santi Cazorla is the best player he has seen.

Iwobi and Cazorla were teammates at English giants Arsenal between 2015 and 2019 after the former was promoted from the club’s academy.

Cazorla was also integral in ending Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought, scoring a crucial free-kick en route to winning the FA Cup in 2014.

The former Villarreal left the Gunners for Spanish side Villareal in 2018 having struggled with injuries at the London-based giants, while Iwobi moved to English side Everton in the following year.

“I just want to say, Santi Cazorla is the best player I’ve ever seen and played with. Left foot, right foot he’s a joke,” Iwobi told Nedum Onuoha’s podcast.

“If you see his physique, and you see him on the streets in north London, you think ‘this guy just doesn’t look like a footballer’, but he’s a magician with the ball. It’s crazy.”

Iwobi also had the opportunity to play with 2014 FIFA World Cup-winning attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil at Arsenal between 2015 and 2019.

The former Germany international left Arsenal during the January 2021 transfer window after struggling for game time under Spanish manager Mikel Arteta.

“Mesut Ozil. His stats speak for themselves, the type of player he is. Unfortunately, the way he left Arsenal wasn’t nice in my opinion, but he’s a great player, a great player,” he continued.

Iwobi made 149 appearances and scored 15 goals during his time with Arsenal and he won the FA Cup in 2017 with the club.