Arsenal Vs FC Vorskla: Alex Iwobi the best dribbler, which is important

Alex Iwobi was Arsenal’s best player in their 4-2 win over FC Vorskla on Thursday night. Most notably, he is the best dribbler in the squad, which is very important indeed.

There has been a common theme with many of the attackers that Arsenal have sold or allowed to leave over the past year or two. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Alexis Sanchez. Theo Walcott. Even Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla, to an extent. These were all some of the best dribblers in the squad.

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Although they may have carried different styles, Wilshere and Cazorla most notably, all had the ability to beat a defender in a one-on-one situation or a congested final-third to eek out that crucial yard of space. But now, in their absence, this current team is noticeably lacking a dribbler.

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When Manchester City were 2-0 down to Lyon on Wednesday night and in need of an attacking spark, they turned to Leroy Sane. The young German skinned two defenders, burst to the byline and teed up Bernardo Silva for the breakthrough. It would not be enough to avoid losing, but the impact of Sane’s dribbling abilities was plain to see. It was his skill, his speed, his technical quality and his direct attitude that singlehandedly created City’s lone goal of the game. Arsenal do not have that type of player in their midst.

The closest they do have is Alex Iwobi. He lacks the same blistering acceleration of a Sane or Oxlade-Chamberlain, but he does possess the fleetness of foot, the shifting balance, the speed of thought and softness of touch to beat defenders time and time again. And he showed it during Thursday night’s 4-2 win over FC Vorskla as the Europa League got underway.

Iwobi was Arsenal’s best player in the match. He was a consistent attacking threat off the left flank, he created double the chances of any other player, played a lovely pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first goal to make the breakthrough against a disciplined and frustrating Vorskla defence, and was a primary outlet that his teammates looked to exploit time and time again.

What was most noticeable was his skill on the ball and the ease and frequency at which he beat whatever defender he was up against. In dribbling past opponents with regularity and effectiveness, Iwobi is committing the opposition’s attention to him. Sane, for instance, was constantly having to beat two defenders, not one. That meant that there was space elsewhere for his teammates to exploit.

Iwobi being an able and dangerous dribbler means that opponents have to take account for him, potentially pulling over help from other positions — that may be a winger dropping deep or a central midfield coming wide. Having players that can beat opponents with their dribbling skills is critical to any attack. Iwobi has that capability.

And for an Arsenal squad that is painfully bereft of players who do possess that talent and impact, it is extremely important that Iwobi can continue to fulfil the role of the dribbler. He is very much needed in this squad as he is different. Thursday night was a perfect example as to why.