Because of the ongoing injury situation at Arsenal, along with the brilliant form of our German international play maker this season, Arsene Wenger has found it very difficult to give Mesut Ozil any time off. But with the Premier League and the fitness of our key player in mind, the boss did not include him in the FA cup squad today and instead gave the number 10 role to young academy star Alex Iwobi.
You have to say that the 19-year old grabbed his chance to impress with both hands, looking calm and composed on the ball as well as being very lively and a constant threat. The fact that he did not look at all out of place among his technically gifted Arsenal team mates and that we did not miss Ozil operating behind the forward three speaks volumes.
It was not just Iwobi’s talent that was put to the test today either, because after the visitors took a shock lead and the Arsenal team in general were a bit off the pace there was a lot of pressure on the youngster’s shoulders but he took it all in his stride.
It will certainly be interesting to see whether the boss gives him another chance in that position for the next FA cup game or if he moves back out to his more usual wide forward position. Have we just seen the first steps of an Arsenal star of the future?
I agree Iwobi was brilliant, also Joel really shone. Great signs for the future
Jay Jay Austin must be Proud!
Agree he was class, probably our best player for 60mins but he was not played no 10. The Ox played as no 10. Not a position he suits – far to many bad decisions – much better as a winger driving to the byline.
Man, I don’t know. His passes were ozil-esque from that position and if we take into account only the second half he was clearly MOTM. To me he needed time to readjust his position from wings to the center and once done he simply delivered what was expected from him.
No Iwobi was definitely 10 position and Ox was in the box to box position Ramsey currently plays in.
Iwobi looked very impressive today. He seems much more comfortable in the middle as opposed to the wing. He didn’t quite show the array of passes Özil is capable of but he did play some great one-twos and had a couple great slide rule passes between the full back and center half. I was most impressed with his quick, Santi-like, feet he displayed keeping possession in tight spaces on several occasions. Hopefully he builds on this performance and carries the confidence he displayed into his premier league cameos.
He and Campbell played very well
I still being we need to sign a top attacker but I was very happy with these two
OX disappointed again unfortunately, but I am willing to be patient with him. Maybe he could use a loan spell (if we sign an attacker)
Theo hasn’t been that impressive either unfortunately
Overall 3-1. I can’t complain. Excellent result
Happy weekend
Next?
1. Welcome Elneny in a few days (hopefully)
2. Liverpool away
How many penalties have we been given in all competitions this season.lol?
Seems wenger is a good planner.
The team prepared well.
Congratulations.
Also injuries have become fewer in recent times.
Great work shad
Ang great job for all those who are improving
Off Topic. We need to sign Mario Gotze this summer. Absolute quality and still young. I think he would make an excellent long-term replacement for Santi Cazorla, who’s 31 now, in our midfield. A fairly similar player – very good at dribbling and keeping hold of the ball, a good short and long range passer also and can set attacks going. Not quite as two-footed as Cazorla, but very few players are. Not saying we need to get rid of Cazorla, he’s still got it, but we need to plan for the future.
I’m convinced we’d be able to sign him. He’s said he may leave Bayern this summer and hasn’t really seemed happy since he’s been there. He has clearly said he’d like to join Arsenal in the past.
Him or Isco definitely! And if we sell Debuchy, sell him to PSG – they have the £££ to overspend!
Concerning Iwobi: today he played really, really well. Against Sheffield Wednesday he was quite anonymous but today when he got to play with a starting XI full of first team players, he shone.
Hopefully Elneny will be wrapped up by Monday and on Wednesday we have to dig deep at Anfield and return with precious 3 points.
Im gonna go for Crowley to take over from carzola
There’s also Wilshere too, you know. i don’t know why people underrate him so much. He can disposes people, he’s difficult to disposses, can dribble his way out tight situations and can pass the ball too. he’ll be a perfect proven replacement for santi. the only problem is that he is injury prone.
I think its unfair that he gets abused because of that – calling him “wheelchair” is just inhumane especially if it comes from arsenal fans, we are supposed to get behind him and hope that he stays fit because that boy is extremely talented.
Yes, he’s extremely talented, but Arsenal needs football players who are fit enough to play football. The only reason to get behind Wilshere in recent years has been to push the wheelchair.
@yankgooner,
Walcott, Ramsey, Gibbs, Rosicky, even RVP have all had their share of injuries. my question is why is it that wilshere in particular gets abused while other injury prone players are ignored. Or are you just one of those fans who just go with the crowd and ignorantly hate on players without any logical reasoning?
Iwobi was indeed great, ddefinitely a gem for the future his time will come! Coyg!
So elneny is going to be the only signing lmfao , goodbye league we were so close
and how did u come bout this conclusion?
Should have been Iwobi coming on in the late minutes not Gibbs.
Have you not worked out why Gibbs is brought on in those instances? It’s to close a game out without conceding. He is there to defend, not attack. Bringing on another attacker would defeat the point of the substitution.
Thanks liam for educating someone the essence of that Gibbs substitution.
Great result! The thing that really struck me tonite…Gosh the future is bright – Jeff, Akpom, Iwobi, Bellerin, Campbell, Hayden, Crowley, Ox, Chambers, Jeff, Gnabry, Zelalem, JW, Bielik, Jenkinson, Pleguezuelo, Vlad, Wellington, Toral, Maitland-Niles….we need to get that kid Whatmore from Sunderland. He’s wasted under Fat Sam
I was very delighted with the way Bellerrin channelled his Inner- Ozil to get two great assists against sunderland
once im going to say that wenger deserves credit too,as we all know he gets a lot of stick when things go wrong but so far he ,s got it spot on good tactics,good rotations&use of players avalaible,credit where it,s due lads,many people were calling for klopp to replace him well ask liverpool,s fans what they are thinking right now!!
also talking about arsenal star in the making apparently we are about to see a former arsenal trainee play in the epl very soon,bournemouth have agreed to sign benik afobe,good luck to him and hope we are not going to regret it!!!