Alex Iwobi is likely to start Arsenal’s opening game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday as his first team progression continues.
The youngster was eased into action last season by Arsene Wenger but by the end of the campaign had become a fixture in the starting XI, with the manager’s faith in him apparent when he picked him ahead of more senior players for the Champions League tie with Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
He’s been in goalscoring form in pre-season too, netting against Man City in the 3-2 win on Sunday, but the Nigerian international is determined to keep his feet on the ground and not get carried away.
“I just want to push on, improve as a player, play more games, score more goals, make more assists and contribute to the team,” he told FIFA.com.
“I don’t like to get ahead of myself, but it is a long season and there are plenty of games, so hopefully I’ll have the chance to do that.”
The 19 year old also thanked his manager for giving him the chance at what was a difficult period in the Gunners season.
“It is every boy’s dream, to score in the Premier League and play in the Champions League.” he said. “I’m grateful to the manager for showing faith in me and giving me the chance.”
So, while signings are needed and frustration is felt until they arrive, let’s not overlook we’ve got one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League emerging right under our noses.
Enjoy it.
He was excellent against City. Still areas of his game to improve (and I’m not in general a fan of using the PL and CL as training matches for young players), but I believe he can make a real contribution to our season. Something nice to think about amidst the frustration of our transfer window non-event.
Iwobi really has been something. How many promising attacking youngsters have shown glimpses of potential before fading back into the reserves and then disappearing from the club altogether? It looks like this one’s made of sterner stuff and it’s great to see him evolve.
There is no player with worse dance skills than he has. Every and each one of his goal dances is cringeworthy. This makes me so happy, as I am an horrible dancer myself and it feels as he is one of my kind. It is beautiful to see something that makes you relate to millionaire players that have more talent in playing football that you have ever wished for. Also, he looks like a great lad, humble and dedicated. Amazingly talented too. To see someone like Iwobi take his chance makes me 100x times more happy than signing players for… Read more »
These kids nowadays have terrible celebrations, his first ever senor goal was great.
He looked like he had a seizure with this one (allowed to say this as im epileptic)
Really exciting player, Akpom looks great too.
Sturbridge is worse, with his goofy goal dance, far worse
Hopefully he can smash the mugsmashers on Sunday. Exciting talent.
I think this should be out line up for Liverpool Cech bellerin Chambers/Holding Monreal Gibbs coquelin Elneny Cazorla Iwobi Walcott Campbell. I think Campbell should play CF Walcott on the right.
As for defence. Either Debuchy or Monreal should play CB with either Chambers/Holding. I prefer Montreal but Debuchy has played there before and he did surprisingly well and he’s very experienced. But that’s my solution until hopefully we buy a CB soon.
Also apparently Lacazette is injured so there goes another transfer target. But I have a feeling we’ll win on Sunday.
There’s two rather large xhaka and alexis shaped holes in that lineup..
lol yeah i thought of it but it didn’t make sense and just like Wenger did last year he started Sanchez of the bench because he wasnt fit thats what wenger will do again. Theres no point risking the only world class striker we have when we haven’t even bought a replacement for Welbeck yet… starting Alexis is suicide what if he gets injured because hes not match fit??? then wed have another problem like the CB situation and then every striker we go in for would be 10m more. So yeah i don’t think so Alexis would be on… Read more »
I agree that Cazorla will start as captain in the number 10 role, but I’d wager a lot of money that both Xhaka and Alexis start too. We can’t wrap our good players in cotton wool just because we haven’t got an equally good replacement, otherwise Koscielny, Sanchez and Ozil would never play.
I am actually dreading the start of the new season and we are understaffed yet again
His progress was so inspirational that EA sports created a player for their Fifa 17. Alex Iwobi=Alex Hunter. On a serious note, I hope he continues his pre-season form. Thomas Vermaleen signed for Roma, so Kostas Manolas should be available.
The Vermaelen / Manolas merry-go-round crossed my mind also. The latter is exceptionally aggressive at attacking the ball in the air, which is exactly what we need. As for Alex, what impresses me most about him is his composure and intelligence on the ball. Playing with Ozil will greatly assist his development.
Absolutely love Iwobi. It’s incredible he’s only 19, he plays with so much composure.
Pretty sure blogs got it wrong and he is in fact 20.
What A Class Act This Boy Is.
Title Of A Movie?
So what do we think the front 6 will be for Liverpool?
Xhaka Coquelin
Ramsey
Oxlade Iwobi
Sanchez
Will that be right? Will Wenger play Walcott from the start and if so where?
Thoughts….
Not a bad line-up, but I think Walcott will play and one of Ox or Iwobi will not. I think we’ll see this:
Xhaka Coquelin
Sanchez Ramsey Iwobi
Walcott
It’s not necessarily what I’d put out if I was Arsene, but given what’s been used in pre-season I can definitely see this happening. I really hope Walcott has a good game against the Mugsmashers.
I suspect we’ll see xhaka Ramsey alexis iwobi Cazorla and ox (with alexis up top). Though I’d be tempted to sacrifice ox, have Ramsey out on the right and get elneny alongside xhaka given how inexperienced our centre backs are likely to be.
And play 3 at the back or no goalkeeper?!! Or maybe the referee will take pity on us and allow us to play 12 on the pitch.
Referee: “Come on Mr Klopp, look at their fans – they are going crazy with no transfers coming in. Look at that poor bald fella – he had a full head of hair a few weeks ago but has pulled it all out. Let’s allow them to play with 12.”
Klopp: “Well ok but only if it’s Walcott. Then it’s basically the same anyway.”
Oops! Please ignore my stupidity – apparently I can’t count and you can Mc1982. Apologies! As you were…
Campbell?
Love this kid! He just needs more time to properly develop his celebrations.
I actually really like his celebration. Nothing wrong with being unique. But to each his own I guess.
I find myself doing it as a default celebration in work meetings. I am 33. I am respected in the workplace.
Love this guy
He had a great game against Man City. I’m really pleased with how he’s progressing. I hope he plays against Liverpool. COYG!
Quick question: What would Iwobi cost if another team came in for him? Say, Chelsea or Man City? Would fit well at BVB as well…
I guess people like to get instantly offended instead of engaging in any form of discussion. I’d say 25 mil.
Hey Arseblogger, I have a feeling you just put the Arseblog curse on Iwobi with this post.
If I recall correctly, you said the same about Walcott and Chamberlain.
Better than Sterling
Back-handed compliment. Almost everyone is better than Sterling.
Even Sanogo?
did you see lingards celebration sunday………looked like billy elliot gone wrong
Iwobis are fine
Living his dream with humility. Big 17 off safety!
If iwobi and Sanchez play on the wings, Ramsey will play in central midfield. We will then have Wilshere, Santi, El Neny, Coquelin, the OX, Campbell on the bench. Coquelin may be loaned to another club in January or sold for his need of regular football.
With the Arsenal injury situation being on “normal”, Coquelin will probably play every single game from November…
I just pray the injury gods spare you so that nothing will hinder your progression.
Love him!
One of the best developing player I’ve seen in a while, let’s hope more Arsenal youngsters follow suit.
Hope He will help Arsenal and Nigeria win UCL and world cup respectively
I reckon Alex could and should be given a go up front sooner rather than later and certainly sooner than Chuba! Alex has the necessary strength, pace, skill, positional nouse and scoring ability, while I haven’t seen much other than a few easy tap-ins from Chuba.
Is his best position central or wide? Last season he was played at no.10 and i like his directness and ability to run past defenders but given the midfield options we havr is he better suited to a wide role?
Lad showed great decision making and maturity and that’s what puts him ahead of Ox and Walcott in my head.Great talent and I’m still surprised how he hasen’t still drawn much attention.I feel like he brings more balance to team with Alexis in side,than Ox.
Love his short socks also.
This guy is all we hope comes out of our youth system
He could do more.
I enjoy watching Iwobi’s confident play on the pitch. Having said that, he definitely needs to work on his goal celebrations.
He should dance like Charlton Banks when celebrating goals 😀
It is worth noting that he just seems like a sweet, good-natured kid and is not a cunt. They all are at 19, sure, damn he plays with not an insignificant amount of joy.
i love his jay hands movements and the low cut socks.
**jazz hand movements**
Iwobi & Lingard have the worst celebrations in the league. But they’re both proof that internal solutions should not be scoffed at. Hope they both cement their places in their respective starting XI’s this season…
Is it only me who thinks Elneny deserves a starting spot after his impressive pre season performances?
My team for Sunday:
Cech
Bellerin Holding Chambers Monreal
Elneny Xhaka
Oxlade Chamberlain Iwobi
Sanchez
Yeah that’s a great team, add an eleventh player and we’ll be laughing! Sigh.
terrific line-up though we will be better off fielding 11 players rather than 10
Ramsey -_-
It will be interesting to see how Iwobi deals with the pressure. If he can handle it he’ll be a good asset to the team. Still need that world-class striker though…
You can’t wrap our good players in cotton actually common sense says we should but how about this there are over 45 games this season risk Sanchez for 1 game and if he gets a serious injury because he’s not fully fit don’t you know you’re more injury prone when you’re not fully fit? I think that’s what happened to Gabriel also a little but of bad luck but I think if he was fully fit he’d have gone into that challenge cleaner and maybe he won’t be injured now but that’s a maybe. But risking Sanchez for 1 game… Read more »
You can’t wrap our good players in cotton actually common sense says we should but how about this there are over 45 games this season risk Sanchez for 1 game and if he gets a serious injury because he’s not fully fit don’t you know you’re more injury prone when you’re not fully fit? I think that’s what happened to Gabriel also a little but of bad luck but I think if he was fully fit he’d have gone into that challenge cleaner and maybe he won’t be injured now but that’s a maybe. But risking Sanchez for 1 game… Read more »
Just testing comments
Testing comments again.