Throughout his time in senior football, Alex Iwobi has pretty much exclusively been used as a winger for both Arsenal and Everton.
He was expected to produce both goals and assists from wide positions where he would be isolated in 1v1 situations against opposition fullbacks.
However, that was never and never will be, his game.
Iwobi still produced good yet inconsistent performances in those positions, even though he was played in a role that didnt suit his strengths.
When he moved to Everton, a ??35 million price tag came with high and unrealistic expectations for a player whose performances should not be judged by his output.
The question then becomes, what does Iwobi offer?.
Well, he is a player most suited to playing in central areas, with excellent close control and passing abilities, which allow him to be excellent at helping his teams retain possession, as well as creating chances from the half-space.
Alex Iwobi is a hard-working midfield player who is strong in both defensive ground duels and creative with his passing and ball-carrying.
For the first time in his career, Alex Iwobi has finally been given a chance to play in a central area by current manager Frank Lampard.
He has started the season in fine form, with consistently strong performances from deeper, whilst also adding goal contributions on top of that.
This strong start even earned him a nomination for the Player of the Month award, which further proves just how well he has been playing.
This tactical analysis will come in the form of a scout report to show what makes Alex Iwobi stand out in his first season as a central midfielder.
The analysis will highlight the skills Iwobi possesses that make him so strong in midfield and the tactics that allow him to showcase some of his strengths.
Alex Iwobis role at Everton
Frank Lampard has mainly utilised a 4-3-3 formation at Everton this season.
He has instructed his team to go long in the build-up, with the aim of winning the ball back up in higher areas from loose balls.
In the build-up, this makes the Everton midfield redundant, although they need to have good anticipation and skill under pressure to retain the ball in higher areas.
In settled play, Iwobi is used to maintain possession of the ball.
while also moving higher up to create chances for the front three.
While Alex Iwobi is better suited to a possession-based side, where he can display his excellent technical skill more frequently.
This style still allows him to have lots of time on the ball as his teammates look for him to pass the ball to and progress play through him.
Exceptional Passer
Alex Iwobis biggest strength, and something that makes him more suited to playing as a midfielder rather than a winger, is his excellent technical quality, which makes him a reliable passer of the ball and a ball magnet for his team.
In the build-up phase, Alex Iwobi always drops deep to help his defenders have a forward passing option to progress play.
Iwobi has the positional awareness to always be an option for his teammates to pass the ball to, enabling them to build play rather than going long and having the risk of winning the aerial duel.
In the deep areas, Iwobi is comfortable at dropping deep and sometimes rotating with his full-back to take responsibility for the build-up by being the man to progress the play for Everton.
Alex Iwobi has the technical skill to control the ball under pressure, the vision to find teammates, and the ability to pass the ball through tight spaces.
This image below shows how Iwobi is composed enough to keep the ball rather than go long, as well as the actual ability to find a forward player in acres of space.
Iwobis composure on the ball has regularly allowed Everton to retain possession and start attacks rather than going long and taking the risk of the front line winning the aerial duels.
The pass map below shows Iwobis preference to play on the left-hand side of a midfield three, although on occasions, he has also played on the right side.
Alex Iwobi is a player who enjoys having the ball and frequently gets in positions to receive it and offer routes of ball progression.
Although hes playing in a direct team
