Arsenal: Anonymous stars exposed by Alex Iwobi

Both Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey were largely anonymous once more in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Sporting CP. Both have been exposed by Alex Iwobi and his undeniable display that proves he must start.

As soon as Arsene Wenger walked out the door at London Colney, each and every player in the squad should have perked their ears up, put their head down, and started grinding for the new season ahead. The old loyalties were gone. Arsenal’s stars would now have to earn their place, not be handed it.

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And now, nearly three months into the new season and very much into the reign of Unai Emery, it is clear to see which have impressed and which have not.

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Alexandre Lacazette started the first three matches on the bench. He is now the starting striker. Lucas Torreira was eased into action. He has since become everpresent in the midfield. Mesut Ozil started his first game in the number 10 position on Monday night, the ninth match of the Premier League. He did not waste his opportunity.

And on the flip side, there were two anonymous stars in Thursday night’s 1-0 win over Sporting CP that continue to see their stock plummet: Neither Henrikh Mkhitaryan or Aaron Ramsey have done much to demand a starting position.

Both had slipped out of Emery’s thinking prior to the international break. Mkhitaryan then started against Leicester City, but was again very poor, and both played the full 90 minutes on Thursday in the Europa League, a sign that they are far from in the favour of their manager.

Contrast the fall of Ramsey and Mkhitaryan over the past weeks and months to the joyous rise of Alex Iwobi. The Nigerian was close to being loaned out or even sold in the summer. Now he is one of the key attacking pieces that Emery is resting to use in the Premier League.

Very simply, Iwobi has taken the chances that have been handed to him. Playing with verve, brightness, and an inner confidence and assurance that has not been seen before, he has proven himself necessary to the Arsenal attack with a string of excellent performances. You could make an argument that he has been the player of the season thus far.

Iwobi plays very similar positions to both Mkhitaryan and Ramsey. The three are effectively competing with one another for game time. At the start of the season, if you had quizzed me on their pecking order, I would have listed Iwobi at the bottom, and by some distance. But now, the complete opposite is true. He is soaring, taking a key role in every match that he plays, while his teammates and competitors flounder in anonymity.

Mkhitaryan and Ramsey can no longer rely on the goodwill and loyalty of the manager. There isn’t any to rely on. They must prove themselves worthy of being played. That is something that Iwobi has done. Perhaps both could learn a thing or two.