If you are interested in the English Premier League, here’s one of our best beginner tips for profitable sports betting – follow the young players and their development!
A good example of such a promising athlete is Alex Iwobi, and today we will try to explore his future after the summer move from Arsenal to Everton.
Moving from Arsenal to Everton
The talented Iwobi has been part of the Arsenal Academy for many years and found his way to the first team of the club a couple of seasons ago. The natural position of the youngster is probably in the middle of the park, but he was mostly played on the wing for the Gunners.
Like many young players on such a level, Iwobi struggled to win a regular place in the starting lineup, but showed a lot of promise in his many appearances from the bench and in competitions like the Europa League.
He improved under Unai Emery in the 2018-19 season and looked set to fight for a regular place, before he was sold to Everton for what could become £34 million. The question is if that was the best step for Iwobi’s future and we will try to answer it today.
Why Iwobi Needed That Move
The hard truth is that young players often fail to transition from a talent to a seasonal pro in top soccer level and we’ve seen that time and time again in the past. The biggest clubs don’t have the time to wait for them to develop and make mistakes in the process.
Arsenal is a good example of such an environment. Even under Arsene Wenger, who was famous for his work with young talent, there were plenty of promising players that simply didn’t reach the level everyone expected from them.
Young players need to be on the pitch and they need to learn. That can’t happen on the training ground and there’s a certain level that only can be achieved, if you feature regularly in competitive games.
Alex Iwobi reached the point of his career where he needed exactly that. The young and hungry midfielder has shown enough technical ability and desire to work hard. The next step would be to get enough games under his belt and this could’ve been an issue at Arsenal.
The Gunners have a number of players of a similar profile as Iwobi. The likes of Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Willock, Nelson, and even the new arrivals Ceballos and Pepe would’ve competed with the young Nigerian.
It would’ve been hard for him to establish himself as Emery’s first choice and that would’ve likely harmed his career.
Why Everton Was the Right Choice
So, a move away from Arsenal was almost necessary, but the destination was really important too. Everton is one of the best options out there for a couple of reasons.
For a start, Alex Iwobi will be playing in the same competition. He was born and bred in the traditions of the English Premier League and his senior experience is mainly there. The midfielder won’t need time to adjust to a new tournament or learn the traditions and language of another country. Staying in England was the best choice and a solid foundation for Iwobi’s future.
Another reason for optimism is that Everton looks exactly like the club the youngster needs to reach the next level. The team is ambitious and will be demanding to Iwobi. He will have to fight for his place and perform regularly to stay in contention.
On the other hand, the pressure and expectations are not as harsh as in Arsenal. There will be some patience by the manager and the fans, so Iwobi will have the freedom to play his own style without fear. We already saw glimpses of his exceptional skills in the cameo against Aston Villa.
Iwobi brought life to an average Everton performance and came close to scoring a vital goal. Only the post stopped him and he was by far the best player of the Toffees after the interval.
You can’t read too much from his limited time in the club, but Iwobi certainly showed the Everton fans that he is here to play exciting soccer and add creativity to the team. That’s exactly what the manager Marcos Silva expects from him and the youngster is ready to deliver.
Let’s hope he stays fit, because the signs show that Alex Iwobi has a truly promising future at his new club.
Impact for the Super Eagles
Despite his young age, Alex Iwobi has already earned a place as one of the most important players of the Nigerian national team. The Super Eagles will need his sublime technique and goalscoring abilities in the near future.
If he can fulfill his potential after the move to Everton, Iwobi could become a legend, like his uncle Jay-Jay Okocha. He has the skills to be one of the leaders of the new generation of Nigerian talents and lead the country to success in the upcoming years.
