Eyebrows were raised when Alex Iwobi was selected ahead of Aaron Ramsey and Lucas Torreira in the starting line-up against Chelsea in August.
While the result that day didn’t go the Gunners’ way, the 22-year-old impressed with a goal, an assist and an eagerness to be a game-changer. He’s not looked back since.
Having earned the trust of new coach Unai Emery, Iwobi has gone on to make a further 11 appearances in all competitions this campaign, silencing a few doubters along the way.
It’s probably fair to say that of all the players inherited by Emery, the Academy graduate, who signed a new deal in the summer, appears to have benefitted the most from the newfound work ethic being instilled at the training ground.
Ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the Emirates, Emery was asked what advice he’s given to the player to spark such an upturn in form.
“It’s try, try, try and try,” said the Spaniard. “If you are doing a good action individually or not, continue with the confidence to try another, to try again.
“After that, good commitment every day, good behaviour every day and feel together with your team and respect decisions and respect your teammates.
“There is only one thing I know, work. You are working, you are winning this confidence every day, then your quality is there to be better in each match.”
He went on: “He [Iwobi] is very young and I think he played here with improving moments in his career.
“We need to also push him more to improve because he has the quality and the capacity.
“The first thing is with the behaviour in training, finding ways to improve every day. And then, also to give him what he can improve tactically, individually.
“I think a lot of it is confidence, every player needs confidence. Not only with playing but when we are together and we are here.
“I want every player to feel this confidence but also with a very big demand from us and on himself also to work every day.”
Having committed his long-term future to the Gunners, it’s great that Alex knuckled down and is now reaping the benefits. A few more goals and assists to his name, something he’s talked about himself, and we’ll have a real player on our hands.
Nothing we are doing in terms of shape of the team differs from what Wenger was doing last season. He was already playing Aubameyang on the left. The difference is attention to details and proper direction from the new gaffer. As I’ve mentioned before, Wenger is a genius professor who puts together a high performance engine but neglects to add a part or two to it and can’t figure out why its stuttering. Emery is that engineer who comes in, pays attention to all the moving bits, tweaks them and gets it going. Now the trick is to sustain it… Read more »
As for Lback, I think our vulnerability in this area (to Salah and Shaqiri) against Liverpool should be balanced out by AMN if Monreal and Kolasinac still seem short on full fitness. I’d rather trust the young lad who has better tekkers than the limited Jenkinson and bothers to look up before executing passes. He’s young granted but so is Trent Arnold. AMN can hold at Lback for us with Granit and Auba assisting. The trick is for us to keep as a unit and not leave too much space bc that is exactly where Liverpool will exploit on the… Read more »
If we don’t have the needed number of defenders how about playing three at the back who STAY in defence
Really impressed by his defensive improvement.
If only he can improve his game to be creating more chances, assisting and scoring more goals then you have a world class superstar. I believe he will get to that level with us because so far so good he has been improving fantastically and that’s great
Could be a big player for us. Good pedigree and coming up to the time when he is getting closer to being a ‘grown up’ player.
Looking forward to seeing him improve.
It’s a tough one, really. It’s obvious he’s much better cutting inside from the left side (as a right-footed dribbler), but then there’s Aubameyang, if we want to play with both him and Lacazette at the same time. Somehow the best solution for the balance of the team seems to be to start Iwobi on the left and then one of Aubameyang/Lacazette up front. But can we afford having one world-class striker always on the bench? Also, Mkhitaryan’s form is starting to worry me. He hasn’t been too good this season and recently his goals and assists have also dried… Read more »
Mkhitaryan, oscilating between unspeakable errors and geniality within minutes, is a typical gunner and also highly entertaining to watch. He always attempts things, but needs more match time to get in sync with the others. Could be today’s surprise starter.
It’s just a gut feeling but I somehow suspect we’ll start with a 4-4-2 today. Either Özil or Mkhi on the right, Iwobi left. It’s the only way I see us putting some fear in the eyes of the Liverpool defence. Would obviously help to have our best fullbacks available. I don’t think central midfield will be that important because both teams emphasize the counter pressing and quick transition. Also with a 4-2-3-1 we’ll be outnumbered in midfield against their 4-3-3 anyway since Özil is a 10 and an 8. Have two solid banks of four and then counter efficiently.… Read more »
I don’t care if iwobi toe pokes the shit out of the ball once he’s got a yard of space in the box, Put incredible venom in the shot please. I know it almost sounds silly but if he can only side foot with under the normal power please just toe the fucker to death and send it flying past the keeper.
?
His crossing and pass selection/decision making have all improved.. Reminds me of a prime Diaby at times how he carries the ball and has exceptional feet for such a big guy.. Shooting still needs work.
Why did Wenger lose by big score to the top teams?A hdl is to be blamed. His style is attack till the cows come home even though Arsenal are leaking 5/6/7/8 goals.Who can ever forget the 8-2 mauling and the big losses to BM. As for todays game Emery better tweak his hdl. Pool are far more deadly than CP.Why not take a leaf from the special one and park the bus and hit on the break? It s about time Liverpool lose. Cut out the short passes and attack with speed .The pass to eternity gives defenders time to… Read more »
I kinda get what your saying man. But we don’t train to park the bus, that’s only tactic Cuntinho knows. That’s prob all Ushited practices on. I do agree we don’t have the Man city pedigree of playing out from the back, and Cesspool has prob the best pressing tactic in the league wich could cause is worry. And they too play a high defensive line so a few long balls over too to release our quick attackers on break should (a la Ederson) deffo be on the cards, I agree with that. That tiki taka from the back against… Read more »
I’m not his biggest fan, but I think he’s a better fit than Aubameyang on the left, and on current form he’s ahead of Mkhitaryan+Ozil.
Welbeck has been good, but since Welbz looks like he’s off? Then makes sense we go with a player who looks like he’ll be given a little more time to prove himself.
He certainly looks more comfortable cutting in from the left, than he does playing out on the right.
Great words from the gaffer