Arsenal Vs Watford: Alex Iwobi serves Mesut Ozil obsolete

Arsenal travel to Watford on Saturday with questions hanging over the fitness of Mesut Ozil. However, for one game, the form of Alex Iwobi serves the German obsolete.

Arsenal prepare to travel to Watford on Saturday with several injury issues. Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers have already been ruled out, Laurent Koscielny is a major doubt, while Sead Kolasinac is dealing with a hip issue. And that is before the likes of Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck (both of which, per Wenger, are available but lacking fitness), and Santi Cazorla are considered.

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Watford are already a tricky enough side to overcome. They are resilient, well-drilled, and disciplined. Marco Silva is an intelligent and tactically astute manager, and he will set his side up to frustrate and scupper the sweeping attacking moves of their visitors. With all the injuries that Arsene Wenger is dealing with, it only makes the task at hand more awkward.

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Perhaps, though, of all the injury issues, oddly enough, the one that is the least concerning is Mesut Ozil. Even last season, had the German been absent for any match, it would have been extremely worrying. But such has been his fall from grace, that such fears no longer exist, especially for the odd game here and there.

Part of the reason for that is Ozil’s own problems. But it would be selling his replacements short if that were the only reason. In Ozil’s stead, Arsenal have rotated in several players, from Aaron Ramsey to Jack Wilshere, to play as the free-roaming attacking midfielder off of the central striker.

And against Brighton, just before the international break, it was the turn of Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian lost his confidence in his ability last season, and, subsequently, his place in the starting XI. But this year, he has seemingly rediscovered a greater happiness and freedom in his game.

He is playing with energy and intensity. He is willing to drive at defences with the ball at his feet, he is busy in and around the penalty area, showcasing a neat and subtle touch, and he was instrumental in much of the attacking joy that Arsenal had against Brighton, including lashing home the second goal to all but end the game.

It is the re-emergence of Iwobi that settles my fears over Ozil’s absence. Although he lacks the consistency to fill in for Ozil for an extended period of time, for one or two games, he has the quality to have a very similar influence. He is intelligent on the ball, his movement his sharp, and he is always looking to create and engineer opportunities for those around him.

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Breaking down Watford will not be an easy task. Arsenal will have to work hard for production. But even if Ozil is only able to make the bench, I am not worried. That is because of Iwobi and his blossoming qualities.