Sports
Unai Emery is the perfect manager to improve Alex Iwobi
Over the last couple of days, the future of Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has been a hot topic of discussion.
Much of that is ostensibly down to speculation linking him to a move to Italy, with Lazio rumoured to be interested. Now 22, and with a new manager at the helm at Arsenal, this summer is a pivotal one for Iwobi, who has been with the Gunners since the age of eight.
Unai Emery very quickly surmised that Jack Wilshere did not feature in his plans, allowing him to leave the club. However, the England international was out of contract anyway; Iwobi’s current deal still has two years to run, and while that is ample, he will expect to receive an offer for an extension before entering the final year of his deal next summer.
In that sense, Iwobi will be playing for his Arsenal future this season, provided he doesn’t move, of course. If he does, the challenge will be a much different one: how well would he adapt to a new footballing environment and a different culture?
Serie A’s more cerebral, contemplative stylings would no doubt take some getting used to, however, if there is a player suited to making the transition, it would be the ‘Big 17’.
His ability to inhabit the frame of the game perfectly makes him quite elusive, not so much a conductor as a chameleon.
He can be just as influential in a slower-paced side, and it would be interesting to watch him build a rapport with the prolific duo of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile.
He would also be the highest profile Nigeria international in Italy perhaps since Taye Taiwo’s short-lived spell at AC Milan almost a decade ago.
It might very well spark renewed interest in Serie A in Nigeria – combined with Simeon Nwankwo’s breakout season at Crotone last term, and the ubiquity in preseason of former youth international Kingsley Michael at Bologna.
It would be somewhat disappointing though were that to happen.
Following his sudden rise to first-team prominence two years ago, and the honeymoon that followed, Iwobi appeared to hit a wall under former manager Arsene Wenger, shunted around into various positions and drifting in and out of the team.
The sense was that, while Wenger’s more laid-back, improvisatory approach to management suited a young, upcoming Iwobi, he needed something more structured to continue his development.
It is a tenuous contrast, but his more effective showings with the national team under Gernot Rohr’s less fluid organization lend credence to this idea.
In that sense, the Arsenal board hit a home run in selecting Emery, an intense, obsessive manager who loves to work with players individually and has a strong track record of improving them.
He could well be the perfect manager for Iwobi, a player who has come to be severely underappreciated by his fanbase.
His skillset is pretty unique within the Arsenal squad: he works superbly well in tight spaces, displaying the composure and quick feet required to receive the ball and side-step challenges. He will, however, need to improve on his productivity in front of goal; ironically, he scores quite frequently for Nigeria, which suggests this is a foible very easily addressed.
Another area where he will also need licking into shape is in his defensive contribution. The player has gone on the record to state that he does not enjoy defending, and his efforts in that regard are often perfunctory rather than conscientious.
If he is to be relevant under Emery, this will have to change. The former Paris Saint-Germain boss is cautious in big games, and has been known to deploy two full-backs in tandem to protect the wide areas. As this is the zone he will most likely patrol, Iwobi will have to embrace the more quotidian aspects in order to impress.
That is the reality that he now faces: stay or leave, the direction in which he goes this summer will demand a great deal of work and growth from Iwobi. Both directions will shake him quite vigorously out of his comfort zone. How he embraces the challenge will determine whether he can begin to fulfil his potential as he enters his prime years.
Real Madrid produced a spectacular comeback against Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final with Joselu striking twice late on, earning them a 2-1 win on Wednesday to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Alphonso Davies smashed the visiting German giants ahead in the second half but record 14-time winners Madrid produced a sensational comeback with Joselu netting in the 88th and 91st minutes.
Bayern Munich’s Canadian midfielder #19 Alphonso Davies scores his team’s first goal in spite of Real Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper #13 Andriy Lunin during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP)
Spanish champions Real Madrid face another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in the Wembley final on June 1, after they stunned the team they call their “black beast”.
Squad player Joselu, on as a late substitute, wrote his name in Madrid’s history books with his last-gasp brace.
Bayern Munich’s English forward #09 Harry Kane reacts to their defeat after the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
“There have been a lot of times we have looked dead and buried, but we have that mentality of never say die,” said Real midfielder Jude Bellingham.
“Joselu deserves it all, he has been an amazing squad member this season.”
Madrid had enjoyed the better of the match but it seemed Davies’ superb strike had set up a repeat of the 2013 all-German final in London.
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel made three changes from the first leg, benching veteran Thomas Mueller and Leon Goretzka.
Dani Carvajal started for Madrid after missing the first leg suspended and was heavily involved as the hosts dominated the opening stages.
Real Madrid players celebrate their second goal scored by Real Madrid’s Spanish forward #14 Joselu during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match between Real Madrid CF and FC Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on May 8, 2024. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO / AFP)
Rodrygo Goes was inches away from converting Carvajal’s low cross and the Spain defender then cleverly set up Vinicius Junior with a pass nutmegging a defender, and Manuel Neuer tipped the Brazilian’s shot against the post.
The rebound fell to Rodrygo but his effort was weak and with a desperate arm Neuer was able to claw it out to complete a fine double save.
Bayern’s Serge Gnabry limped off injured with Davies replacing him before Harry Kane’s first flash of danger.
Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin was alert to push the England captain’s vicious long-range volley around the post.
Neuer palmed away a Vinicius free-kick as the teams ended a high-intensity, relentlessly frantic first half level.
The second period was just as fraught, with Davies’ cross deflecting onto the roof of Lunin’s goal.
Vinicius was unplayable down Madrid’s left and Rodrygo prodded his low cross agonisingly wide of the far post.
The 38-year-old Neuer made superb saves to deny both Brazilian forwards again before the hour mark as Madrid controlled the game and ratcheted up the pressure.
However just as in Munich, when Los Blancos were at their strongest, Bayern pounced.
Kane fed Davies and the Canada international cut inside from the left and smashed a shot beyond Lunin into the far top corner after 68 minutes.
Madrid thought they had levelled moments later through Nacho but after a VAR review the strike was ruled out as the defender had grabbed Joshua Kimmich’s face before shooting.
Tuchel took off Kane in the final stages to try and hold on to victory but it slipped through his fingers as Madrid produced more indelible European memories.
Neuer, who had been sublime to this point, fumbled what appeared a simple Vinicius strike and Joselu gratefully bundled home from close range.
With Bayern reeling Madrid struck again, decisively. It was Joselu once more, the striker on loan from second division side Espanyol, turning home after Antonio Rudiger cut the ball back to him.
The goal was ruled offside but officials overturned the decision after review, and after nearly 15 minutes of stoppage time, Madrid earned the chance to go for their 15th Champions League trophy.
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