Arsenal made easy work of their FA Cup third round tie with Blackpool running out 3-0 winners (watch the goals here) courtesy of Joe Willock’s brace and Alex Iwobi’s late strike.
After the game, the duo faced the BT Sport cameras. Here’s what they had to say…
On the performance…
AI: We knew it was going to be hard, it’s not like the Emirates where there’s a big pitch. It was all tight and compact but we managed, were able to focus and did well.
On enjoying his chance…
JW: It was a good night for me, but not only for me, the whole team. We dug deep, the second half was not as easy as the first half. We played well.
On thinking he had a hat-trick…
JW: Yeah, I thought I had it, but the linesman took it away from me. That’s how football is sometimes.
On the pace up front…
AI: Yeah, it’s good that the youngsters like Joe and Eddie [Nketiah] did well. Bukayo Saka came on and it shows we have pace in the team. It’s one for the manager, he’ll have a headache deciding who to play. We’re all fighting for our positions.
On stepping up to first team level…
JW: I’m preparing myself every day in training and competing with the best players in the world is the best thing I can do. I’m trying to show I can get in the team.
On finishing Blackpool off with a third goal…
AI: Yeah, we have to get as many goals as we can to make it as comfortable as possible. We knew it was going to be hard, Blackpool are a good team, they fight well, they win aerial dueals. We knew we’d be up against it but we managed and dig in to get the result.
On a word for his old landlady Noreen, who used to host him and Blackpool’s Marc Bola when they were in Arsenal’s academy…
AI: I hope she’s watching. Noreen this one’s for you. Unfortunately, Marc had to lose. I beat him at FIFA and today as well, so that’s two on him. Noreen I hope you’re watching.
Didn’t notice Willock was taller than Iwobi. He’d be a beast of he fills up near as much as Iwobi.
I like Willock in the box to box role more than our other options, he never seems to be a goal threat but keeps popping up with a few. Hope he gets a continued run in the team.
*if he fills up as much as Iwobi.
*fills out – unless you mean eating too many roast potatoes of course!
Perspective?
Really like Iwobi. Similar to a Hleb or a Rosicky really: you’ll never see it in the numbers but he just causes so much danger when he’s in the team.
Iwobi is certainly improving, he’s starting to add end product, could really do with him developing into a double figure goals+assist wide left forward over the next 16 months.
Brilliant atmosphere, shit pitch, decent performance and a very satisfying result…
COYG
With Ramsey is leaving our Brittish core are basically gone…
But with the likes of Bellerin, AMN, Torreira, Willock, Nelson, Guendouzi, Iwobi, Holding… maybe a new generation is rising!
Let’s hope that Willock’s tash develops as quickly as his talent!
The broadcast here kept focusing on Jimmy Saville’s creepy cousin. I instructed the children to look away. Great result for the younger players!
Laca was game changer. Solidified the squad
Great display by Willock. Could have got that hat trick. BUT at the moment, Iwobi is one of our key players and he has again shown his value as one of the only players able to take on others one on one. Another game another goal won’t do him harm plus some excellent crosses from left side. If we bring another payer in to balance him out (preferably right side) with ability to engage and beat players out wide, we will have a far more balanced threat going forward. Then it will be up to the strikers to be even… Read more »