Ian Wright has admitted his pleasure at seeing the once ‘ridiculed’ Alex Iwobi flourish at Everton.
The Nigerian international had endured an indifferent spell on Merseyside since signing for £34million in 2019, but the arrival of Frank Lampard in January coincided with a sharp upturn in form. The Blues boss utilised Iwobi’s versatility to fill holes at full-back, wing-back, and throughout the midfield during the end of last season, and it is the latter of those roles that has seen the 26-year-old emerge as one of the first names on the team-sheet.
Iwobi is one of just three outfield players - the other two being James Tarkowski and Nathan Patterson - to play every minute of Premier League football this season, and despite the arrivals of Amadou Onana, James Garner and Idrissa Gueye to strengthen the position, it is the former Arsenal man that remains undroppable. And fellow ex-Gunner Wright admitted he is ‘so pleased’ the midfielder has earned the adoration of Everton fans after years of ridicule.
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“You know something, I’m so pleased with the way it’s going for him,” The former Arsenal man told Wrighty’s House podcast. “Because I remember Arsenal fans - and this is the same thing that they done with Oxlade-Chamberlain - they ridiculed him when he left. He went to Liverpool done a couple of things there and they said ‘that’s what £40million gets you’. It’s the same with Iwobi.
“I remember watching him play in the midfield early days for Arsenal at West Ham, and you’re seeing something. You’re not seeing the guy, okay he doesn’t score enough goals. We’re not seeing him score enough goals. We’re not seeing that last bit of assist, but his ball progression and work rate, what Frank has now recognised and put him in there.
“You know when you can really feel it, when you watch the Everton fans and listen to the Everton fans when he’s doing his work. They are adoring him now. I’m loving the way it’s working out for Iwobi.
“I’m just talking about someone whose making a massive difference to what Everton need. The work rate, the ball progression, his passing, everything. He’s the pass before the assist. People don’t realise it, but the Everton fans are now starting to realise if they get the right players in and around him, he is going to be a force for them. He’s going to do it.
“And I’m pleased for him because he was ridiculed. Everton fans are realising how important he is to them.”
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