Iwobi set for pay rise as he makes Shearer Team of the Week
Iwobi in midfield is like a new signing for the Toffees this summer and Frank Lampard deserves all the credit in the world for it
England legend Alan Shearer has named the Everton duo of Alex Iwobi and James Tarkowski in his Team of the Week for their performance against West Ham.
The Toffees beat the London outfit by a 1-0 scoreline on Sunday in the Premier League and looked rock solid at the back.
Speaking to the official Premier League website, Shearer said, “James Tarkowski – A tower of strength at the back for Everton.
“Alex Iwobi – Much-improved performance and set up the winning goal.”
Iwobi in midfield is like a new signing for the Toffees this summer and Frank Lampard deserves all the credit in the world for it.
Despite all the midfielders that have signed, it cannot be denied that he’s been the pick of the bunch this season.
His work-rate has been exemplary and he’s been so good at playing the ball out of tight spaces and playing those delicate passes in the final third.
Also, Squawka, a sports data company as described the Super Eagles playmaker as the midfield inspiration in Lampard’s team.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old Nigerian combined well with Amadou Onana and Idrissa Gueye to offer Lampard the perfect blend of qualities in the heart of his midfield: tenacity, penetration, athleticism and verticality, able to retain possession and hog the ball, but drive at West Ham’s pedestrian double-pivot when the moment took them.
The eventual goal came through Neal Maupay, but Iwobi was the catalyst, collecting the ball in the middle of the park, before spraying it wide, penetrating the half space to collect, and then teeing up his French counterpart, who duly dispatched to break the deadlock.
That pass to Maupay means Iwobi has now assisted three of Everton’s last four goals in all competitions, underlining his emergence as a real creative force for the Toffees since his transition to midfield. But, it wasn’t just the assist. Iwobi was everywhere at Goodison Park.
The former Arsenal man finished the game with the most final third entries of any Everton player (13), the most shots (two), the most touches (74), chances created (two), as well as more than double the amount of final third passes of any of his team-mates (34), most take-on (four) and possessions won in the final third (two). It was a complete performance.
Iwobi's game by numbers vs. West Ham:
74 touches
34 passes in the final third
13 final third entries
8x possession won
3 clearances
3 duels won
3 touches in opp. box
2 shots
2 chances created
1 assist
As a reward for his hard work, Iwobi will soon get a pay rise.
The ex-Arsenal star is now 26, and the Liverpool Echo states that Everton is hoping to tie him down for the coming years.
His contract runs out in 2024, but Everton wants to avoid losing him for a cut-price fee this coming summer.
They are hoping a salary raise and a long deal will convince him to stay.
Lampard has been credited with getting the best out of Iwobi.
