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Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi has enjoyed a lot more playing time at the Emirates this season without coming away with huge rewards. That’s not to say that the 22-year-old has been massively disappointing, but there still feels like something is missing in his game and the question right now would be: How long is new Gunners boss Unai Emery willing to wait until Iwobi finds a consistent end product?
The general feeling from anyone that has watched the Nigerian this season is that his game has come on, but not to the extent that perhaps a player of his talent should have. The bursts of pace, lightning quick feet, thunderous shooting and powerful heading has only seen him rack up five goals and seven assists in 41 appearances this campaign.
There are worse records in the Premier League this season and it’s important to take in to account Iwobi’s age as well as position, the stats of a winger can often make for underwhelming reading and not do their actual contribution in a game any justice at all. In Iwobi’s case, however, his stats are quite accurate in terms of how effective he has been during the 2018/2019 campaign and the report card so far would read ‘room for improvement’.
It feels like that has been the ongoing narrative dominating the youngster’s career at Arsenal so far, and history would suggest that there is only so much patience that big clubs have with their academy products before shipping them off for a tidy profit. Now, of course, the 22-year-old isn’t being given game time because Arsenal want to put him in the shop window, no, it’s because they know there is a player in there who can join football’s world elite but he must begin delivering on his promise soon.
https://twitter.com/alexiwobi/status/991949447016968192
In the summer of 2018, Iwobi was rewarded with a new long-term contract extension at Arsenal but given that he hasn’t kicked on as predicted, you can’t help but wonder if he has got slightly comfortable on £70,000 a week without pushing himself.
If you were to compare Iwobi to players of a slightly older age in the Premier League, like Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, you’d find they began to distance themselves from their peers at around 22, Iwobi’s age. They were able to find that other gear and are now some of the most sought after players in world football.
At the very least, the top four clubs in England need players that produce by having a telling impact in a game on average, about eight times out of every ten performances, and Iwobi is probably making a difference every four, maybe five times in ten games. If the Gunners are to make the top four this season, which looks far from certain at odds of 8/11 in football betting, they will need their Nigerian superstar to take the games left in the run-in by the scruff of the neck so that they can get over the line.
Suffering a 1-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park was the latest blow to Arsenal’s hope of getting back into the Champions League. Unai Emery called on Iwobi with 17 minutes to go and he immediately looked lively and dangerous, but wasn’t able to get a lethargic Gunners side up the pitch quick enough to steal a point.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1114900126236127234
Naturally, not all of Arsenal’s losses are down to Iwobi in any way, but he has to be seen as a player that can inspire the Gunners to greatness once more.
For that to happen, the 22-year-old will need to take responsibility and repay the faith shown in him by Arsenal or else be shown the door after the powers that be decide they have seen enough.
8 Comments
The writer doesn’t understand what he is writing self. Everyone sha just want to ask to seek attention trash!
No Tayo, he’s written a piece that for me shows what Iwobi has waiting for him in his career. He better starts delivering or soon Arsenal will find an alternative and then regrets may start.
Iwobi is a bundle of talent waiting to unleash proper at a time ordained. Every soup takes different times to get cooked. Mistake Arsenal will make is ship Iwobi out, but I can’t be bothered by that cos he will always find a club. Might even be the blessed place to unleash. Yes Iwobi need to develop in certain areas but I kinda feel he is fighting lots of negatives; British people not happy with him that he chose Nigeria over England. They say it every now n then. But despite all these negatives he is doing fabulously well. Nigerians love you Iwobi n u will keep getting better n better.
@ Glory God bless d day u were born.The earlier we recognise that this westerners don’t like us and will fight hard to kill every light that intend to shine from Africa the better for us.
Now tell me talent wise in real term one English player that is better than Iwobi.At this present level if Iwobi were to be Engish or Spaniard or Brazil he will be worth 200md.But trust me cos he’s not representing England he’s not good and every mistakes he makes is blown beyond his success.To me he remains the best Arsenal player this season by virtue of his contribution in total.Is either he’s scoring or making assist or preassist.Even the players will tell u he makes life easy for them.Iwobi will succeed anywhere but not too many English players has the capacity to succeed outside PL.
Only and only if our press and the citizens can learn to encourage even if they r not doing well just so their moral can be boosted then it will be well with us.Kelchi is having problems now not bcos he’s not good but cos he’s not English otherwise they will fight to revatilise his career.Appart from the fact that Kele is used out of place there r so many players in Leic that can’t bench Kele,but u know the politics of the game.
I know that one day we will not be judged by our colour but by our ability,wether we like it or not Kele sabi Iwobi sabi but jealousy by the Engilsh will make things hard for them.
True talk
if your paid &70,000 pounds per week… you need to up your game or shipped out !
Iwobi is trying but should not be comfortable. he has huge potentials and should put more effort to unleash it…
How long can Arsenal wait is a question that can be answered by only iwobi.
The soooner he repay their faith the better… na we sidon dey watch !
@ Glory and Asoke. U guys just nailed the point. Iwobi is so good and is the best Arsenal player this season. The British Media will not like him because he turned them down and chose his father land. Imagine how much they are quoting for average Odoi of Chelsea. Tell me is that boy better than even Samuel Chukwueze. Pls lets appreciate our own
Nice comment, i dont really understand all this big hype about Odoi, if not for the English clamouring for him to be played.