Arsenal: The time is now to move Alex Iwobi to central midfield

Arsenal have already been strongly linked to several wingers this offseason, making now the opportune time to move Alex Iwobi into central midfield.

Alex Iwobi, who joined Arsenal while still in primary school, has been one of the most polarizing figures at the club in recent years. While most fans still cheer on the Academy graduate, there have been constant frustrations about his lack of end-product and quality in the final third of the pitch.

The importance of having clinical wide players is obvious when looking up the table, and it is arguably Arsenal’s biggest need this summer.

Manchester City have Sterling, Sane, and Mahrez; Liverpool have Salah, Mane, and Shaqiri; and, although they lost Hazard, Chelsea still have a solid blend of youth and experience with Christian Pulisic joining the likes of Pedro, Willian, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

The fact of the matter is that Arsenal never truly replaced Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, all whom have departed in the last two seasons.

The failure to address this gaping hole in the squad forced a reliance on Iwobi to perform in a position where he clearly doesn’t thrive. This ultimately led Unai Emery to utilize wingbacks far more frequently towards the end of the season in an effort to bring at least some width to the side.

Iwobi’s five goals and eight assists in all competitions were an improvement, but those numbers are still a far cry from what is needed at this level. It is therefore no surprise at all to see this club linked with more natural wingers like Yannick Carrasco and Ryan Fraser.

While Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira are the preferred midfield starters, Emery may want to experiment more with his favored 4-3-3 formation next season. With Aaron Ramsey gone, a new midfield signing is on the agenda, but Iwobi should also be in contention.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

He may never be a prolific goalscorer, but Iwobi still has many excellent attributes; he brings much needed pace and energy to the team and is one of the very few natural ball carriers in the squad. These qualities can be especially vital if Xhaka remains a starter, given his obvious lack of mobility.

Therefore, due to the balance he can bring to the midfield, Iwobi should certainly be ahead of youngsters like Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock in the pecking order.

In short, Arsenal have misused Iwobi for too long; the vast majority of the Nigerian’s first-team appearances have come from the wing or in a wide attacking midfield role.

Adding natural width to the squad this summer therefore takes on an added significance, as it should give Emery the freedom to use players like Iwobi in their most suited positions and hopefully unlock their full potential.

At 23-years-old and now entering his fifth season as a member of the first-team, it is time for Alex Iwobi to seize the moment.