Alex Iwobi starred for Arsenal who bounced back from a humiliating 5-1 thumping in the hands of Liverpool on Saturday to beat Fulham 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium on New Year Day reports Completesportsnigeria.com.
Goals from Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was enough to hand the Gunners a win despite Aboubakar Kamara’s 69st-minute strike which reduced the deficit at 2-1.
Iwobi who failed to make the final three-man shortlist for the 2018 African Player of the Year on Tuesday made the assist for the opener in the 25th minute when delivering a good cross for Xhaka to poke home from close range.
Lacazette finished off a fine move for the Gunners second goal firing in from close range before.
Kamara gave Fulham a glimmer of hope when he tucked in Ryan Sessegnon cross but Ramsey came off the bench to restore Arsenal’s two-goal lead.
Aubameyang ensured the points were safe when he curled in a brilliant shot from the right side of the Fulham box.
The 22-year-old Iwobi who missed out final three-man shortlist for the 2018 CAF African Footballer of the Year award was replaced in the 83rd minute for Bukayo Saka in what was his 18th EPL game this season scoring twice.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane made the final cut.
At Goodison Park, Super Eagles midfielder made his 20th start in the English Premier League for Leicester City who recorded their first win in 2019 edging Everton 1-0.
Jamie Vardy scored the winner for the Foxes to condemn Everton their fourth loss in five Premier League games in the EPL.
The game was Ndidi’s 21st of the campaign and his 71st in the EPL since joining the club three years ago.
His compatriot was not included in the match day squad for the game.
The Toffees, who have now not won in their past four home games, remain 10th in the table, while Leicester moves above Wolves into seventh place.
Everton are at home to Lincoln City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, while Leicester travel to Newport County on Sunday.
By Johnny Edward.
14 Comments
Super Eagles 2018 Score Card
TOP 7 PLAYERS:
i) Alex Iwobi 8/10
ii) Wilfred Ndidi 7.5/10
iii) Ahmed Musa 7/10
iv) Troost Ekong 7/10
v) Odion Ighalo 6/10
vi) Uzoho 6/10
vii) Ola Aina 6/10
MOST IMPROVED (after World Cup)
Mikel Agu 9/10
Chukwueze 8/10
Odion Ighalo 8/10
Ola Aina 8/10
Troost Ekong 8/10
Uzoho 7.5/10
Osimhen 6.5/10
BEST GOALKEEPERS
Francis Uzoho 8/10
Afelokhai 6/10
Akpeyi 6/10
UNDERATED
Henry Onyekuru
Mikel Agu
OVERATED
Brian Idowu
Iheanacho
UNLUCKY
Ebuehi (injury)
Moses Simon (injury+New club issues)
Afelokhai ( Coach Rhor factor)
Chippa United (unforgiving Nigerians)
GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR 2019
Chukwueze
Onyekuru
I couldn’t agree less @bomboy. Nice observations. I think I will also create a list of LUCKY PLAYERS that are still in the team due to one reason or the other:
Shehu Abdulahi
Ogenyi Onazi
Kelechi Ihenacho
And on the list of improved players, I think KENNETH OMERUO also deserves a spot.
I think you mean: I couldn’t agree more…..
Lol English prof.
Thanks Chairmanfemi. Kenneth Omeruo surely deserves a spot in the list of most improved. He has been consistent since his last move to Leganes.
I also think we need another heading of
GREAT DISCOVERIES OF 2018
Samuel Kalu
Jamiu Collins
Semi Ajayi
Samuel Chukwueze
Ikeben, all we need right now is to give people a chance. The two positions we need cover right now are left back and attacking midfield (number 10) .
With the team structure now taking shape any good player who is currently performing for their club at a high level can just slot in.
We call them discoveries, but there are at least 4 players doing well across Europe in the number 10 position that need to be looked at. There are also at least two left backs that have not been given a chance in2018 all performing at a decent level
The matches against the Seychelles and Egypt gives us a great opportunity to test potentials and to give Ebuehi a much needed run out to get him fit to begin the challenge against Aina for right back
Good point Bigd, can you tell us these players you are talking about.
BigD you are right but please point them out to the house ao we can know them and follow them as well to see how they are progressing
Number 10s:
Godwin Saviour (Under 17 Golden eaglet 2013) playing for Roeselare in Belgium first division 4 goals 2 assists
Iyayi Believe Atiemwen playing for HNK Gorica in Croatia premier league (same team as Godfrey Oboabona and Musa Mohammed) – 7 goals and 4 assists
Ifeanyi Matthew (under 20 Nigeria) playing for Lillestrom inNorway premier league 11 goals 9 assists last season (season ended November 2018)
Left backs:
Chima Akas playing for Kalmarr in Sweden premier league
Ikouwem Udoh (Nigeria Under 21 captain)
In the Number 10 position, you left out Ebere Eze of QPR and Obinna Nwobodo who has been turning heads in Ujpest of Hungry.
A SuperEagles Number 10 IMHO can not be playing in Croatia or Belgium division 1. I will take Ikouwem Udoh in the Left Back, Not Chima Akas. Ifeanyi Mathew is more like Etebo. I don’t think he can usurp Etebo in the current SuperEagles. The young Lad in Arsenal Bukayo Saka may well be the Understudy for Iwobi in the long run.
You are spot on BigD… I think we should as well add Ebere eze and torunarigha!
How come no one is talking about star performers in the NPL, though on the league gas been on long break.
It’s important we recognise players plying their trade in the Nigeria league or from Nigeria, the roots.
The moribound NPL still remains the wellspring of Nigeria football, not minding the fact that most Nigeria SE are foreigh based.
The likes of Success, Omeruo,Onazi, Samuel Kalu Iheanacho, Osimhen, Chukwueze, Simon moses, Henry Onyekwuru and several others are offshoot of the Nigeria football be it grassroots soccer or amaateur league
But today there’s fascination for players of Nigerian parentage born abroad or living abroad from the Uk, Germany, Russia, Holland et al. While one is not denying the quality and ability of Iwobi, Moses Victor, Balogun, Ebuehi, Troost in terms of talents, skills, techniques and all, yet the lure and attractions of their football background should not prejudiced our local based talents with rich potential but with little or limited football exposure.
Musa Ahemd and Etebo were some of the SE best performers at Russia 2018, who were products of the NPL clubs- Kano Pillars and Warri Wolves.