Arsenal Vs Huddersfield Town: 5 things we learned – Iwobi dispels doubters

3. Iwobi and Mkhitaryan excellent

The two first-half goals were actually very reminiscent one another, just from opposite flanks. An inside forward received the ball and dragged the Huddersfield full-back out of position, a wing-back burst down the flank into the vacated space, and a cross led to a back-post finish.

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At the heart of both goals were Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan — both were at the heart much of the good attacking play the Gunners put together. It was Mkhitaryan who slid a lovely ball into Sead Kolasinac before the Bosnian teed up Iwobi; it was then Iwobi’s pass before Mkhitaryan’s reverse ball that freed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to supply Alexandre Lacazette.

There was rarely a dangerous attacking move that did not involve at least one of Mkhitaryan or Iwobi. The freedom of their movement allowed them to take advantage of the left and right half-spaces, with their combined speed and intelligence causing great difficulties on the counter-attack. Iwobi was a little wasteful after the break, which was disappointing, but his attacking work had already been completed.

Both have been criticised this season for their performances — I have been very critical of Mkhitaryan especially. But here, they were excellent, integral to the good attacking play that Arsenal put together.