Arsenal Vs Burnley: Still waiting for the Alex Iwobi stamp

As Arsenal prepared to rotate players in the Premier League during the closing weeks of the season, I stated that Alex Iwobi had the perfect chance to stamp his authority on a starting role. While he has shown glimpses, I’m still waiting.

It was March 1st when Arsenal lost 3-0 to Manchester City for the second time in a week. This time, the humbling did not come at Wembley with a trophy on the line; this time, it came at a subdued and silenced Emirates, one that was resigned to the impending ignominy of finishing outside the top-four for the second successive season.

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As soon as Bernardo Silva chopped inside Sead Kolasinac and curled a whistling shot into the far top corner, it was clear that Arsene Wenger would be shifting his priorities away from the Premier League and towards the now vital Europa League.

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Not only did the European competition offer the last-remaining chance at a trophy after losses to Nottingham Forest and City, again, in the FA Cup and EFL Cup respectively, but it also provided a sneaky back door to slither into next season’s Champions League. It was a way to kill two birds with one stone, and if that meant sacrificing the league campaign a little, then Wenger was willing to do it.

That rotation provided opportunities for lesser-used players in the squad to feature. Competition is often high in the Arsenal dressing room and playing time can be hard to carve out for yourself. So these chances do not come around all that often. And there was one player in particular that I was most intrigued to watch, Alex Iwobi.

The young Nigerian has struggled for form and confidence since breaking into the team over two years ago. He has grown into a scapegoat for many fans, has suffered extended periods of disastrous anxiety and nervousness in his play, and has subsequently slipped down the pecking order under Wenger.

So this run of games, of which Iwobi was slated to start many, was the perfect chance for the attacking midfielder to stamp his authority on a starting role, something that is even more poignant now that Wenger will be leaving at the end of the season and a new, impressionable manager who will be intensely self-scouting will be arriving.

Unfortunately, though, I am still waiting for that stamp. Iwobi has not quite impressed himself on the opposition as consistently and effectively as I was hoping. That is not to say that he has played poorly. He was excellent in the win against Southampton. He was a rare spark in the away loss to Newcastle United. He played in a composed manner against Manchester United last weekend. But he hasn’t quite reached the heights that I was anticipating he might.

Next: Arsenal Vs Burnley: Predicted starting XI

Perhaps it will come this weekend against Burnley. Perhaps not. But Iwobi is yet to really prove himself worthy of a greater role in this squad. He may be talented. He may be young. But he has failed to take his chance. He has failed to make his mark.

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