Injury aside, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho have started the season superbly, and continued their excellent form on Saturday when they were responsible for a combined three assists and one goal. But which of the pair impressed you more? Understandably, Iheanacho will steal many of the headlines as he continued a superb week, indeed, how many forwards in the European game have contributed more than the Nigeria wonderkid over the last eight days.
After scoring one and contributing an assist in the Manchester derby, Iheanacho broke his Champions League duck with a goal in the rout of Borussia Monchengladbach in midweek, and then followed that up with the second in the 4-0 demolition of Bournemouth on Saturday. It was an excellent demonstration of City’s attacking menace and the sheer speed and ruthlessness with which they can eviscerate opponents, as Raheem Sterling charged down the right flank and crossed for Iheanacho to touch home. He combined with Sterling shortly after the break for the England forward to add his first and City’s third and contributed four key passes in total—more than anyone else in the match.
However, while Iheanacho may have stolen the plaudits, Iwobi’s performance for Arsenal was similarly emphatic. The Gunners ran out 4-1 winners at Hull City, and even though Jake Livermore was dismissed for the home side in the 48th minute, they were made to work for their victory as Hull defended doggedly and fought back through Robert Snodgrass’s 79th-minute penalty.
Iwobi contributed the first two assists, for Alexis Sanchez’s 14th-minute opener, as his strike took a major deflection off the Chilean’s heel and evaded Eldin Jakupovic, and for Theo Walcott ten minutes into the second half, when he sent a delicious backheeled flick into the England forward’s path. The Nigeria star was also unfortunate not to open his account for the season, as Jakupovic was forced into a series of fine stops to deny the 20-year-old.
There’s much for Nigerians to be delighted about after these marvellous showings as two of the national side’s newest stars proved they can be key figures for Premier League giants.
