Arsenal: Alex Iwobi Becoming Frustratingly Untouchable

Arsenal ran with Alex Iwobi yet again, as the young Nigerian is becoming immune to the rotation when its him that needs rotation more than anyone else.

Arsenal started Alex Iwobi on the left against Sutton United yet again – surprise. The youngster has been a part of just about every single starting XI in every single competition. No matter how poor he plays, he will not be rotated.

Related: 5 Things We Learned Against Sutton United

Now, I’ve never ran a youth academy or developed a teenager from a prospect to a superstar (well, I have on FIFA, but that doesn’t count) but I can’t imagine that what Wenger is doing with Iwobi is the best way to go about things.

The lad has become untouchable. My frustrations at the lack of consequences coming from this team used to be focused on Theo Walcott, but he has faced consequences. He got dropped. Huzzah!

But now this team of no consequences is centered on Alex Iwobi. How bad does a player have to be to get dropped? I get that maybe this match could get him some confidence, but why not give the start to Ainsley Maitland-Niles or the Ox, both of whom not only deserve it more, but could use the confidence just as much?

Unsurprisingly, Iwobi was not that impressive. He had a fantastic chance at a goal but skidded it wide in the first half and while the second half did show improvements, as he notched an assist, his passing was still wonky and his continued inability to keep hold of the ball was just frustrating. Then he was subbed off.

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We all love how promising Iwobi looks and we rejoice when he is in form. But there is no need to let the whole team suffer while he searches for form. That’s an unnecessary step in his development. A step that could be replaced with a simple lesson in consequences.

Most other people in the team face consequences. Granit Xhaka, Olivier Giroud, Lucas Perez, they all face consequences, some even more than necessary. Superstars like Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez really don’t, but that’s an unfortunate part of reality.

Youngsters should be facing consequences no matter where they’ve been or how they’re projected to be. Iwobi is a fantastic talent but you are just dragging him through the mud, and unfairly so, but sending him out there day after day hoping that he will turn it around.

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Hopefully two weeks off will give Iwobi plenty of time to snap out of it. Even if he doesn’t though, he knows only a full-on melt down will remove him from that starting XI.