Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi outshines teammates in one key area
Everton midfielder Alex Iwobi is enjoying a rich vein of form at the moment.
Only a few months back, the 26-year-old was facing an uncertain future at the club under Rafa Benitez.
He was abysmal and his performances were constantly below par. It felt like he has been a disastrous signing for the club.
However, under Frank Lampard, it’s been a different story. He is a player reborn.
Lampard has used him in multiple positions, but it is in central midfield, where he has been absolutely magnificent.
Iwobi played every minute of Everton’s final 12 matches last season, and he has maintained that form so far.
According to The Other 14, Iwobi has created 1.74 chances per 90 minutes, managing 22 chances, without the set-pieces counted.
This is absolutely incredible. It shows that he is getting himself into good areas where he can pick crucial passes for his teammates.
Iwobi has admitted that he looks up to players like Kevin de Bruyne and Bernando Silva, the Manchester City duo.
“I look at players like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva and what they do for Manchester City,” he says. “That is what I would like to contribute. I don’t just want an assist or goal every five or 10 games. I always want to get on the ball and feel I can influence games. I don’t have to keep it simple,” he said to INews.
He makes around 1.8 tackles per game, as per Whoscored, which shows his overall contribution to the team.
Apart from the fact that Lampard has given him the license to expand his game and have more influence to dictate the midfield, the presence of Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye in the middle of the park can’t be denied.
The pair maintains a strong defensive shape (along with Conor Coady and James Tarkowski) which allows Iwobi to do whatever he wants. The stats are clear indications of his tremendous progress under Lampard.