England are yet to announce their provisional squad for the upcoming European Championships, but one player who will not be involved is Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi.
The 19 year-old has enjoyed a thoroughly impressive breakthrough season, emerging from the youth team and cup squads, to start the crucial Champions League tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Iwobi has shown an immense amount of ability for such an early point in his career, and is quickly becoming a fans favourite, and is said to have been learning from team-mate Mesut Ozil in training.
The young star recently changed his international allegiance from England to Nigeria, having previously been capped at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 youth levels for the former. Iwobi featured twice for the Super Eagles in the recent African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt, and is not tied to the country of his birth.
The winger has started Arsenal’s last eight consecutive matches, and could have been a strong shout for a place in England’s squad for the summer, especially with the recent injury to Danny Welbeck, and the dismal form of team-mates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott.
Iwobi could have been the ideal replacement for Welbeck out wide for England, and the role will now likely be given to an out-of-position Jamie Vardy or Daniel Sturridge. Walcott is a possibility to make the squad, but many would argue that his form since the turn of the year does not warrant a place.
Would Iwobi have been a certainty to be on the plane for France? Would he have made the squad without Welbeck’s injury? How much of a loss for England will the pair be this summer?
Let’s take it easy on the lad
I don’t think he would have made it with or without Welbeck’s injury
He is still very young for that…
Given that England have no good wingers other than Raheem Sterling available for the Euros, Iwobi could have been in the squad I guess, but only because of injuries and a lack of competition. He’s way too young and unproven to be taken otherwise.
Marcus Rashford at United is the example of another young player that’s been very impressive this season but still not experienced enough to take to the Euros. There’s a lot more of a contest among strikers to get a place in the squad.
Though of course, this is all irrelevant because he’s a Nigerian international…