Ian Wright delighted for for Alex Iwobi as Everton transfer finally making sense
Ian Wright has moved to sing the praises of Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi after his excellent form to start the season, while speaking on his podcast.
The Nigerian midfielder has become one of the first names on the team sheet in a central midfield role for Frank Lampard, with his energy and carrying of the ball shining through among the rest of the squad.
And while speaking on Wrighty’s House podcast [6 September, 26:54], Wright admitted he was delighted for the former Arsenal man but admitted he’d never be as good as he is now if he’d stayed at the Emirates Stadium.
“You know something, I’m so pleased with the way it’s going for him,” he said. “Because I remember Arsenal fans, and this is the same thing that they done with Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“They ridiculed him when he left. He went to Liverpool done a couple of things there and they said ‘that’s what £40m gets you’. It’s the same with Iwobi.
“I remember watching him play in the midfield early days for Arsenal at West Ham, and you’re seeing something. You’re not seeing the guy, okay he doesn’t score enough goals. We’re not seeing him score enough goals. We’re not seeing that last bit of assist, but his ball progression and work rate, what Frank has now recognised and put him in there.
“You know when you can really feel it, when you watch the Everton fans and listen to the Everton fans when he’s doing his work. They are adoring him now. I’m loving the way it’s working out for Iwobi.
“I’m just talking about someone whose making a massive difference to what Everton need. The work rate, the ball progression, his passing, everything. He’s the pass before the assist. People don’t realise it, but the Everton fans are now starting to realise if they get the right players in and around him, he is going to be a force for them. He’s going to do it.
“And I’m pleased for him because he was ridiculed. Everton fans are realising how important he is to them.
“I think Iwobi would never have got to this level if he stayed at Arsenal, simply because he came through at Arsenal. They moved him everywhere. Moved all over the place.
“It would never have happened for him at Arsenal to do what he’s doing now because you look at his work rate, playing that 6/8 position is unbelievable. It’s the kind of intensity that Mikel [Arteta] wants now. They need someone who can press like that.”
Quality
Everton have severely lacked real quality over the last few years and it was a big reason why they struggled in the Premier League last season.
But since Iwobi slotted into a central midfield role at the back end of the last campaign he has made himself undroppable with his pace, energy, pressing and ball progression to link midfield to defence and attack.
Despite spending £33m on Amadou Onana and re-signing Idrissa Gueye this summer, it’s likely that Iwobi will remain as the first-choice central midfielder and the rest of the squad will be competing to go alongside him.
It just goes to show that sometimes fans just need to show some patience with a player, because prior to that move the £30m spent on Iwobi was looking like one of the crazier fees spent.
Now he has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet and his form is likely to carry over and earn him more regular plaudits from the fans and pundits like Wright.