Alex Iwobi’s struggles are clear: he has no end product. It’s almost a surprise when he scores. It’s a phenomenal game if he provides an assist. It’s a good days work if he gets a couple of shots on target and completes accurate passes. Unfortunately, it’s his poor form this season that has agitated Arsenal fans.
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His performances shouldn’t be attributed to his lack of skill, but to his inability to handle pressure. In the 2016/17 season, in 39 games for Arsenal, he contributed to nine goals, scoring four and assisting five. This season, in 29 games played so far, he has contributed to eight goals, scoring two and assisting six (although he is in good form with Nigeria this season, scoring the vital goal against Zambia that took the Super Eagles to the World Cup and scoring two against Group D favorites Argentina in a friendly a few months ago). However, his numbers are still very mediocre. Arsène Wenger said at the beginning of this season Iwobi can score 10 goals a season. But is that too much to ask of a player like Iwobi? Wenger challenged Alexandre Lacazette in a similar manner before he made his Emirates debut, stating he should score a goal a game in the Premier League but he’s only amassed nine in 26 games. Ever since Arsenal upgraded Iwobi’s jersey number from the “Big 4-5” ambiguous squad rotation number to the “Big 1-7” (Alex Song and Alexis Sanchez’s old number) he hasn’t elevated his game as expected. And of course, the looming expectation of accomplishing similar feats as his Bolton Wanderers legend and Super Eagles star uncle Jay-Jay Okocha is something difficult to live up to.
Pressure is a thing all players have to deal with. I hope Iwobi has the fortitude to play through it. I just hope he can capitalize on his opportunities from now until the end of the season.
Eddie Mungai 
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