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Can Everton finally get the best from £30 million flop

By Matt Townsend

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Alex Iwobi of Everton runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage on November 22, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Daniel Leal Olivas - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Alex Iwobi of Everton runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Fulham and Everton at Craven Cottage on November 22, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Daniel Leal Olivas - Pool/Getty Images) /
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One of the most impressive performers for Everton in yesterday’s 3-2 win at Craven Cottage, was Alex Iwobi. Could the former Arsenal man have finally found a role at Goodison Park?

Iwobi has been a peripheral figure at Everton ever since his deadline day move last year and has struggled to find any consistently decent form when he has played.

The Nigerian international was a last-minute signing made instead of the player the Blues were supposedly more interested in getting – Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha.

Everton were priced out of a move for Zaha and so on deadline day the club snapped up Iwobi who was surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.

There were mixed feelings about the signing of Iwobi. The fee for a player who had not been able to force his way into the Gunners side was exorbitant and many Evertonians were unsure if he had the talent and temperament to succeed at Goodison Park.

He has been in and out of the team ever since he joined the Toffees and has been unable to hold down a regular place in the first team despite numerous opportunities in a variety of positions.

Each time he has come into the team he’s  been unable to find any decent or sustained form and has looked a shadow of the player who always seemed to be a threat whenever he played for Arsenal against Everton in the past.

Iwobi has mostly played on the left, as he did often for the Gunners, with the idea that would best utilise his abilities to pick up, drive and run with the ball and give him the chance to cut inside onto his right foot to supply a pass, cross or take a shot.

However, when he has occasionally operated on the other flank he has seemed better suited to playing on the right – his natural side – like a more orthodox or traditional wide player.

On Sunday Iwobi came into the revised team that Carlo Ancelotti picked as one of the two wing-backs playing on the right hand side.

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The ex-Arsenal man had perhaps his best match in a royal blue shirt. He was heavily involved in the excellent attacking play the Toffees produced as they dominated the first half.

Iwobi showed more energy, commitment and quality than he has produced in any other game. He was carrying the ball really well and supplying the other Blues forwards with plenty of good possession.

One such run where he brought the ball forward and beat a host of Fulham players, led to Everton’s second goal. It was the kind of thing that Iwobi had been bought for a powerful, driving run that committed opposing players and created space and opportunity for his team mates to exploit.

His game tailed off in the second half as indeed did that of all the Blues players as Everton’s form dropped off and they became ever-more defensive, but it has been a very good effort overall.

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Now the real test will come if he is selected again when Everton take on Leeds United on Saturday. We’ve seen a few false dawns before, so can Iwobi replicate that performance against Fulham and give the Toffees a stronger and even better balanced attack.