It was against Chelsea at the Emirate Stadium in September 2016 that Alex Iwobi really showed why he was not just another flash in the pan.
The Nigerian had been enjoying a breakout season with Arsenal that season (2016/2017) and against Chelsea, he showed the qualities that had aided his promotion to the first team.
Playing from the left side of a midfield four, Iwobi was a torn in the flesh for then Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic.
There was something smooth about his performance on that Saturday evening in North London, gliding through the Chelsea defence on some occasions and playing delicate and piercing through balls for Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott.
The build-up to Arsenal’s second game in that 3-0 win showed Iwobi at his silky best. Composed and with his back to the Chelsea goal, Iwobi exchanged played a one-two with Mesut Ozil, turned with two, three touches before cutting up the defence with a pass to Hector Bellerin who square-played for Walcott to score an easy tap-in.
It was Iwobi at his best. Two years later, it’s still one of the things he does best from the left side of midfield. Cutting inside the midfield to float disturbing passes inside the opposition box.
