Arsenal: Alex Iwobi bringing up so many ‘ifs’ to consider

Arsenal’s internationals showed up in force over the week, but none moreso than Alex Iwobi, so let’s start playing the ‘if’ game.

Arsenal watched a lot of their international stars play wonderfully these past couple days. Aaron Ramsey secured his 50th cap for Wales and won without Gareth Bale. Granit Xhaka put in a shift and nabbed a goal.

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But Alex Iwobi stole the show. Coming on just after the hour mark, Iwobi needed just around ten minutes to score for Nigeria and give them the win that secured a berth in the World Cup. He was a hero. The Nigerian Messi.

Which is fantastic to see, obviously because he is a Gunner, but also because he is a young, developing talent who has the world ahead of him. A goal like this can change your very outlook in front of net going forward.

It also gives way to so many ‘ifs’ that we need to be considering regarding his club career. For instance – if confidence is everything, then does’t that mean that Iwobi should be in the starting XI against Watford? How could he be any more confident?

He already has the talent, it’s just a matter of unlocking it and confidence always has been key. It carries over. Just because it happened during international duty doesn’t mean that he won’t be feeling it with the club.

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Another question we must ask is if international form even matters. When you’re off with a national team, everything is different. Roles, positions, team mates – everything. So while it is great to see our guys performing, it has to be remembered that everything is different.

But that’s where the confidence thing comes into it. Sure, it may be a completely different everything with the Super Eagles, but that doesn’t take away from the mindset that he will be in.

Finally, since the big debate here is if Iwobi should start or not, especially after scoring a goal against Brighton & Hove Albion and then this heroic effort for his country, we have to ask if we are for sure losing the superstar duo.

Because if we are, then there shouldn’t be any question that Iwobi starts. If there are in form Gunners brimming with confidence, they take priority over want-away stars.

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If Iwobi can keep this form going, which is always the trick, we may be able to get him past that point of being in a mental block at times in front of net.