Arsenal: What more does Alex Iwobi have to do?

Alex Iwobi is still not a particularly popular figure among the Arsenal fan base. But I am not sure what more he has to do to dispel his harshest critics.

Football fandom is a weird and wonderful thing. If you were asked to provide a good reason as to why you unwaveringly support the team that you do, you would not be able to give one. Football fandom is inherently illogical. It is based on pure passion, an unbridled connection that cannot merely be washed over or broken.

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From a positive point of view, that is brilliant. Having such loyalty to a cause is an admirable trait. But it can also cause extremely vitriolic, intense reactions to less positive eventualities, even when they are not nearly as pejorative as they may at first seem. Fandom clouds accurate analysis.

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At Arsenal, there may not be a player who embodies that clouded response more than Alex Iwobi. All you have to do is read the replies to his social media posts to see what plenty of apparent supporters think of him.

But if you want accurate, objective opinion, then maybe you should listen to what Unai Emery had to say about his performance versus Southampton on Sunday:

"“I am very happy and I think he is working a lot for improving and he has energy, he has quality, he has things to improve. But he can do that. For us, we have to be demanding with him and he himself being demanding to improve the things that he can get better at in his qualities. When he’s getting into the attacking third, into the box, to be calm to decide the last action with assist and scoring more. But he is giving us a lot of attacking moments and opening space for other players when they are arriving to the ball.”"

Emery, I believe, threads the correct line of Iwobi. He is energetic, direct, calm and creative on the ball, but still needs to improve in his decision making and final quality of pass and shot in and around the penalty area. But if you were to listen to many fans, they would have you believe that he is the worst player to ever kick a ball in an Arsenal shirt.

Those who are ‘Iwobi supporters’ are not trying to argue for his inclusion in a list of the greatest players in the world. He has clear limitations, and anyone who doesn’t accept as much is not really watching him play. But that does not mean that he is playing poorly — and it also does not mean that he cannot improve.

Remember, Iwobi is still only 22 years of age, has markedly bettered his game this season under Emery, and is looking increasingly comfortable in the left-wing position that he has seemingly made his own in recent weeks, especially when the bombarding Sead Kolasinc is surging up on his outside shoulder.

Iwobi is playing well. He is developing his game. He is pleasing his manager. He is a deserved starter. And yet, apparent supporters are ready to pounce on his every mistake. I am still not sure what more he has to do.