In other Everton news, Ancelotti needs more from his big summer signing
View: Assessing Alex Iwobi, Everton’s new wing-back option
It is fair to say that Alex Iwobi’s £27.36 million move from Arsenal last summer has not quite worked out as planned for Everton.
While the Nigerian international has shown flashes of the play that enabled him to become a regular at the Emirates, he has not been able to hold down a place in the starting 11 on Merseyside.
The 24-year-old was primarily used as a left-winger at Arsenal, looking to cut inside onto his right foot but given that Richarlison fulfils this role at Everton, the deal still looks a strange one.
However, Carlo Ancelotti has looked to do something different with him and gave Iwobi a start at wing-back against Fulham in the Toffees’ 3-2 win in late October. Against a struggling Fulham team, he looked impressive, playing much of the game in the opposition half and given plenty of space to dribble (via WhoScored).
He finished the match with six completed dribbles but completed just two of five tackles attempted (via WhoScored). With Seamus Coleman ruled out and Lucas Digne subsequently suffering an injury, it was an interesting experiment that offered some promise for both Ancelotti and the player himself.
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His performances in the role since have not been definitive. Iwobi completed a combined two dribbles against Leeds United and Burnley but made three key passes from wing-back across the two games. Since Fulham, he has also completed 66% of the tackles he has attempted but has been dispossessed three times (via WhoScored).
Much like his wing play, there have been areas of the 24-year-old’s game that have been good and areas that have not been as effective. He possesses many of the technical and physical attributes required to play as a wing-back, but he remains somewhat inconsistent.
With Digne out for the foreseeable future and Ancelotti preferring a front three of Richarlison, James Rodriguez and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Iwobi should fully commit to this opportunity. He showed against Fulham that he can be an attacking wing-back with dribbling and passing skills, while the fact that he completed 66% of his tackles over the last two games shows he has progressed.
If he is willing to commit, he can make this a success, but it will come down to whether this is what he wants for his career.