Arsenal: Alex Iwobi continues to stake his claim

Alex Iwobi scored the only goal of the game for Nigeria as they became the first African side to qualify for next summer’s world cup with a win over Zambia. He is continuing to stake his claim for a greater share of the first team opportunities.

The Arsenal squad, while perhaps lacking in the top-end quality that their Premier League rivals boast, is still deep and varied in the number of options that it offers Arsene Wenger. That is especially true, as it always has been throughout the Wenger era, in the attacking positions.

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The assumed starting front three is Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette. They are the three best, attacking players in the squad, two of which were club record signings, and are perhaps the only figures that could claim to be considered a member of the elite in the squad.

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However, behind the trio, there is great competition for places. Olivier Giroud has been the starting centre-forward since his signing in 2012, Theo Walcott is the longest-serving member of the squad, and Danny Welbeck, who scored three goals to open the year, has the versatility and the ability to play in any of the three attacking positions. Nonetheless, perhaps there is no other player that, so far this season, has made their claim for a starting role as Alex Iwobi. has.

The 21-year-old looked extremely spritely in the preseason, seemingly rediscovering a streak of confidence that seeped away during a challenging season where he lost his starting role thanks to untimely injuries and inconsistent form. And he has continued that form up until this point, for club, and country.

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Iwobi has started two Premier League games this year. The first was a combative, enthusiastic, industrious performance away from home against Chelsea; the second was a more attacking, creative display against Brighton, where he scored a well-taken goal and was the most prominent threat that the Gunners offered.

And he has now scored for his national side. Coming off the bench late in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Zambia, Iwobi converted a low cross with a confident, first-time finish to seal the victory for Nigeria and confirm them as the first African side to qualify for next summer’s World Cup.

Now, two goals in two games are hardly enough to suggest that Iwobi must start every single game, especially considering one was from off the bench. However, alongside his promising preseason displays, he is beginning to stake a claim for more and more game time.

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Wenger will have to make several selection decisions throughout this season. Perhaps the most difficult will be who to play in the three attacking positions of the squad. Iwobi is one of many options, but he is quickly establishing himself as one of the better ones. Only time will see how this plays out, but, for now, it is exciting to think about what may be ahead.