Alex Iwobi has hailed Arsenal team-mate Olivier Giroud’s goal as a great ‘team-goal’, while insisting he was lucky and couldn’t do it another time.
The Nigeria international scored the second and final goal of the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace today, and was happy to play his part in the win with the winner. He was also asked about his view on the opening goal, which some have hailed as a top contender for Premier League Goal of the Season.
“It was a great feeling. It was a bit unorthodox, but a goal’s a goal and I’m happy to start 2017 with a goal,” Iwobi said.
“It was a great way to start the new year, to show to the fans some commitment and some desire, and I feel like we showed that today. It was a great team performance.”
“That was great team play and for Oli to pull that out [for the first goal]– I don’t think if he tried that again he could do that! It was a credit to him and it was a great ball from Alexis and a great team goal.”
The goal is certainly the big talking point of the day, while Iwobi’s input was also a nice touch, having struggled to put the finishing touch to goals for much of the campaign.
His goal was not a scratch on the Frenchman’s however, and I like to think that he was being jovial when playing down his team-mates exceptional effort, as the goal was no doubt a touch of class.
The Nigerian has looked a little out of shape compared to his amazing breakthrough form of last season, but he did well today in place of the integral Mesut Ozil.
Was Iwobi talking tongue-in-cheek about Giroud? Could Iwobi make Wenger consider moving Ozil out wide?
Pat J
Iwobi have done well in that No10 role, i believe if given the opportunity consecutively he will be one of the best. As for the goal of Giroud is a class but does not make him to be our first eleven, he is too slow and miss chances alot, we need a striker that can convert major chances that comes on his way. Giroud is not pacey and it did not suit to Arsenal partern of play, Sanchez still remained our best striker. Xhaka long and short passes are wonderful, and Bellerin have shown to us that he is a class.
Xhaka was unbelievable with his long passes yesterday, he made me forgot about Santi for a while… I believe he can still improve !!!
As good a goal as Girouds was I think everybody is getting carried away by it. It was brilliant improvisation by him but he had no control over the ball and it could just as easy have gone sailing over the bar and we would have all slagged him off for trying it. These types of goals are one offs and I like to see goals go in from 30 yards, something we hardly ever seem to do. I expect I will get thumbed down for this comment !!