20. Alex Iwobi
Alexander Chuka Iwobi. A name with a certain nobility befitting of the surprisingly humble Lagos-born Nigerian son. Having moved to England at just four years old with his family, Alex was swooped up by the Arsenal academy at the tender age of 8. A true Young Gun who then kept with the metaphor with his breakthrough as Big 45.
As a boy raised in London and the first genuine youth breakthrough since Jack Wilshere, Iwobi should represent something on and off the pitch to Arsenal fans. It’s more than simply being picked up by Arsenal first – in his playstyle, you see the Wenger influence in him: everything from the constant urge to move forwards, progress play, and creative combinations with his teammates…to the downside of Wenger teams, in his negligence of the defensive side of the game. What’s surprising is Iwobi’s humility to admit to this though, a post- match interview stating he doesn’t know how yet to effectively contribute in defence and that he has ‘never liked it’ but ‘is learning’. His youth peer Jeff Reine-Adelaide confirms the Naija boy’s synonymy with Arsenal.
“He has real talent when it comes to getting on the ball, pushing forward and passing accurately – which means he was able to slot into this team.” What he goes on to add though, is something I think really sets Iwobi apart from his peers: “But not just that. He is actually a really nice person too. I think it’s all connected. He is a very relaxed person away from the pitch. He loves to muck about with the other players and have a good laugh, but most importantly, he knows how to distinguish between things on and off the pitch.”
Iwobi himself reaffirms this idea of focus and commitment, he claims he places value on ‘the simple things; arriving on time to training, treating everyone with respect and giving my all in each session. If I don’t give my all in every game, there are international great players ready to take my place’. His Twitter feed consists of him bantering with friends, showing love for music and London culture, training photos captioned with idyllic quotes such as ‘Grateful for the opportunities I receive’ and ‘Always learning, always looking to improve.’
This is a guy who not only shares Arsenal values in playstyle, but takes them home with him. They are ingrained in his character. Gooner family, breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, we have someone who knows what it means (or at least what it should mean) to play for such a club.
Before this becomes an essay on what a good bloke he is, let’s see why having a good head on your shoulders can benefit ON the pitch. In fact, it is Iwobi’s football brain that is his key strength. A stereotype of African players across European football is that they are ‘pure pace and power’ – and sure, Iwobi possesses these, but it wasn’t his ability to knock the ball past people that set him apart from the countless youth at Arsenal who can do this. Iwobi knows when to come short to receive or run beyond, and instinctively drops deep in order to drive the team forwards himself.
This was exemplified in his performance at Arsenal’s 0-0 at Stamford Bridge where The Gunners were without stars Alexis and Ozil but actually put in arguably the best collective performance seen at the Bridge since the days of RVP. This was largely down to Iwobi’s willingness to adapt to the needs of the game. All this is tied together with a good level of pass selection and execution, especially when considered that he is just 21 years old. Many praised Jack Wilshere for such things, but in truth, Iwobi is already making better decisions on the pitch in regard to deciding when to release the ball and when to continue a run.
Alex Iwobi has a fine weight of pass, last season across 26 games he averaged 86% pass accuracy (This season standing at 90%). ‘Easy passes probably!’ I hear from the back? Well, per 90 minutes, Iwobi is passing forwards 28 times with this accuracy, averaging 1.65 key passes per game. To compare, the superb Sterling and Sane of Manchester City average near half these forward pass numbers at 18 and 14 per 90 respectively *AND* average less key passes per game at 1.38 and 1.31, in Guardiola’s overwhelmingly dominant side, no less. So, the boy can pass.
Effectively and consistently. In England and in young players, that is really bloody refreshing. While his style of finesse is positive in combination play (It is extremely rare that you’ll see Iwobi overhit or put his teammates in the awkward position of overreaching), this same focus on stroking the ball does hinder his goalscoring – there’s a real lack of power and conviction in ball striking, Arsenal fans have ridiculously (admittedly hilarious too) coined this ‘Shooting like a feminist’. However, in defence of the boy, we should know that Iwobi has the goal scoring touch in him. While regularly captaining the Arsenal U21s at just 18 years old, he had stints of 9 goals in 9 and 10 in 17.
Iwobi’s intelligence will always find him in goalscoring positions, which sets him apart from most, now to add the needed proficiency. At the tail end of the Champions League group stage two years ago, Iwobi shone as Arsenal beat Bayern Munich in the youth version of Europe’s elite competition. He scored twice (one an absolute beauty). Arsene Wenger must’ve kept his eyes on this one, as just a week later he made his first-team debut. Milestones were then ticked off in rapid succession. League Cup appearance, FA Cup start, first Premier League start marked with first goal. Followed up with an impressive runout at Camp Nou, Iwobi was considered one of Arsenal’s shining lights in this game, providing the unpredictable outlet that Arsenal needed to gain relief from the threat of ‘MSN’. He can not only score goals, but he has a knack for the big goals. It’s more an issue of power over technique, as Iwobi is focused on placement it would seem, but as scoring a World Cup Qualifying goal for his nation would suggest, don’t believe the Naija Boy doesn’t have bottle.
A janky dribbler, Iwobi perhaps doesn’t have the conventional ‘lightning feet’ and close control often associated with Spaniards. His style is more sporadic, he will find his way out of tight areas with invention, improvisation and guile. Skills that are attributed, when administered, back to his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha. (You really thought you’d make it through a whole Iwobi article without his uncle’s name in it? HA!) And while this may be true, not much can take away from Iwobi’s decision making and appropriate selection of skill on the pitch, qualities not associated with young players, wingers in general, and unfortunately amongst the media England, with black players either. Although he has the ability to be a wide-playmaker and drops regular 7/10 performances there at present, his strengths in ball retention and playmaking make Iwobi an exemplary young ‘Modern #10’. This is where, I believe his true potential will be harnessed. Arsene Wenger has used Alex Iwobi often at centre-midfield, usually in a three, demonstrating his trust in him to build play as well as practice defensive discipline and positioning. An idea for the Frenchman would to be setting Iwobi the task of studying Kevin De Bruyne’s role in the current Manchester City team. Iwobi is of similar build and style, and while it may seem a far-sighted comparison at present, Big 17 could create a name for himself when Arsenal lose Mesut Ozil, the last example of a pure classical #10. It’s almost a symbolic transition into a new (hopefully a more fruitful) era for The Gunners.
Right, that’s enough actual football talk. Back to the Iwobi love-fest. Dribbling style isn’t all Uncle Jay-Jay has taught him: “Football is a short career so he {Okocha} is telling me to maintain the lifestyle you have to get businesses and properties. He is trying to keep me level-headed and to help me plan for the future after football.” Another insight into the personal life of Iwobi and how he carries himself with a level-headedness unseen in young footballers, who are largely materialistic divas in the modern game. Close contact with his superstar uncle, and his tight-knit family of four guided him through troubled times in his early teens at Arsenal where he almost faced the axe for not being as physically imposing or quick as others his age – physical aspects being placed at such a high importance all through the grassroots system in England (Another problem for another article). His mother insisted on more drills at home and Iwobi claims even his younger sister would get involved – to whom he still pays gratitude and often visits at her university.
He’s come far since his early teens though. Standing at 6ft tall, now a key strength of his game is his ability shrug off challenges and retain possession, it almost feigns belief that Iwobi’s physicality was ever in doubt! After his ‘crazy’ debut where Iwobi he was ‘treated like a king’ by the people of Nigeria, Naija boy revealed that it was ‘the honour and pride that goes with playing for Nigeria’ that his father spoke of which inspired him to choose the country of his birth over England – a slightly more admirable rationale than others, I.e. Wilfried Zaha admitting to simply selecting the Ivory Coast because Southgate ‘would not recognise his form.’
Alex Iwobi is very much a breath of fresh air for Arsenal fans, Nigeria supporters, and soon, for football fans in general. A young player with his head firmly on his shoulders, who admits his flaws and has hunger to improve. He’s an Arsenal boy in values and
quality, and with the correct selection of coach post Wenger, he will be a pioneer into a new age for The Gunners.
By: @TheFalseNein
Picture: @cottodesign