Arsenal: Alex Iwobi Approach Raises Questions

Arsenal have a bright young talent in Alex Iwobi, but his usage this year has to raise some questions. What is the plan with the young Nigerian’s future?

Alex Iwobi was in the starting XI for Arsenal again against Hull City, continuing his run of starting in the FA Cup. It was great to see, as the young man is proving to look more and more composed each time he takes the pitch. His touches are softer, his passes are more inquisitive and he even looks more threatening on goal.

That is all well and good, but what confuses me is what the plan with Iwobi is. He continues to start at the No. 10 spot, but is that where his future lies? That role is obviously held down by Mesut Ozil and unless those bizarre, unfounded transfer rumors are true, Ozil is going to be here for awhile.

But even with that being the case, Arsenal has a mass of No. 10 options in their system. Jeff Reine-Adelaide is the first that comes to mind, but behind him there is Gedion Zelalem, Dan Crowley, Jon Toral and more. Iwobi may be the best of the bunch right now, and it is nice to see that his talents can be used at such a crucial role, but would it be more beneficial to get him experience playing a position he is more likely to hold in the future?

Take the left wing for instance. That is where Iwobi has traditionally played, although, as mentioned, his versatility has taken him to right wing and No. 10 as well. But left wing was his place. That is a great place to be at Arsenal because behind Alexis Sanchez, there is a vacuum.

Granted, Alexis is going to be here awhile too, ideally. He still can’t play every game and there are far less pure left wing options in Arsenal’s system than there are No. 10s. It literally jumps from Alexis Sanchez to Chris Willock if Alex Iwobi is not to be considered a left winger.

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That is rough. Wenger can jimmy Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott into the role, but at some point, a permanent fixture would be nice to see and Iwobi looked to be the guy to inherit the role after Alexis Sanchez. That is how I think it should be too.

One potential answer to why this is happening is a strategy that Wenger frequently employs at Arsenal. By giving Iwobi play time at the No. 10 role, he is giving him a different view of the game and giving him more talents to enhance his game when moved out left. Then, when he does make the move permanent, it will be like having a left winger with some No. 10 qualities. Not the worst situation to be in.

This is a similar approach to what Wenger has done with Calum Chambers and Krystian Bielik, although the latter may be a different situation.

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Iwobi is a special talent and it is exciting to think what he may be able to do with a true striking option in the middle.

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