Kroupi was one of the standout performers at the Emirates with a goal to open the scoring, and a good performance on and off the ball.
In particular, he demonstrated his clear improvement in his role in the press, with Iraola demanding a lot from his number ten, where Kroupi was deployed.
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The 19-year-old became the first teenager to cross the ten-goal mark in their first Premier League season since Robbie Keane in 2000, and finished well when the ball came to him at the back post in the 17th minute.
Those goals have forced Iraola’s hand into starting both Kroupi and Evanilson, with the latter offering a lot in the Bournemouth press beyond his striking attributes.
Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi (left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London. (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
The Frenchman has had to improve a lot for the boss to continue picking him, and he has come in and out of the team, but he showed exactly how much he had progressed at the Emirates.
Asked about Kroupi’s performance and the thought process behind starting him, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “It has been a difficult decision actually because he has been training really well this week, but I thought we really needed this third midfielder.
“But we've asked him to do this job and to act – ‘okay, you are playing, but you have to be a midfielder and you have to do your job and you have to recover the recovery runs for the second balls and all the defensive job that Number 10, I don't know if we put Ryan Christie, Alex Scott, or Tav [Marcus Tavernier], or [David] Brooksy, someone who is going to play there is going to do, you have to do all this even if you are a striker’.
“And after, in exchange, we can put you in good positions.
Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London. (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
“If he receives chances around the box, he's going to score goals because that is inside him, but I appreciate the job he's doing so he can play almost as a midfielder or second striker.
“And I’m very, very happy for him.”
Iraola praised the youngster’s mentality this season to keep working to improve and force his way into the side.
“Junior has something like inside him that we don't want him to lose it,” he said.
“He plays like he's in the playground sometimes, he's enjoying and he wants the ball.
“But we have to make him, and we want to make him, even a better player in other areas, and I think he's understanding this.
“I hope this balance, like making him a more complete player, not losing his happiness playing, sometimes his naivety, how he enjoys the game, I think the balance is right.”