Alex Iwobi is one of the players who has made an impressive start to life under manager Unai Emery. At the start of the season, he was a dynamic presence in the midfield and his dribbling was proving to be too much to deal for the opposition defense.
Since then, his performances have gone downhill in a significant way and that subsequently led to more criticism from all corners.
Iwobi himself acknowledged that he will always be criticised for his lack of goals. Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, this is what the Nigerian said:
“I would say each day I’m still growing and still learning, but negatives, obviously they’re always going to criticise me for my goals and assists, which I need to add to my game if I want to be compared with the people I’m playing with.
“The main thing is just to remain calm. We’ve even been doing some mental work to remain calm under pressure and calm when I’m on the pitch, and this is something I’ve been working on, not just in football but also off the pitch as well.”
Well, to begin with, it is good that a player such as Iwobi is willing to admit that there is something lacking and admits that he is trying to improve this aspect of his game. As someone who has progressed through the academy of the club, fans will be happier if he comes good.
The most frustrating aspect of the Nigerian is that he has all the elements that a top player really needs. However, his numbers do not match up to his talent and that is what’s frustrating the fans.
If we take a look at stats such as progressive dribbling for players in this age group, Iwobi’s name will always be very high on any list. This is proof that there is everything in place for him to be a success story but something is not clicking.
It is easy to forget that the midfielder is just 22, given how long he has been a part of the Arsenal team. He is still learning and growing, so a little patience is going to prove to be highly rewarding.
For Arsenal to get back into the Champions League, there is a real need for players like Iwobi to deliver their best on a consistent basis. And with Mesut Ozil not likely to get a lot of playing time, there is a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of the Nigerian and fans will be hoping that it works out.
