Premier League
Right Wing Conundrum: Alex Iwobi vs Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Arsenal Football Club are headed in the right direction under Unai Emery. Whether it is just a boost from having a new manager or if he really knows how to get the best of each player’s strengths while hiding their weaknesses remains to be seen. We are starting to get a better idea of how Emery will pick his team each week with players like Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka being picked each week. Others, such as Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have been rotated based on which type of player best fits the opposition. But in Arsenal’s best current XI, who should get the start?
Academy Product
Towards the end of his reign, Arsene Wenger seemingly could not improve the ability of his players. His eye for talent stayed until the end, but players had a hard time progressing. The one player in the squad who has improved the most under Emery is Alex Iwobi. For a player who has been with the club since 2004, he has not always had the fans’ backing. He struggled a bit last season and the results did not give him time to grow. If the entire team did not play well, Arsenal would miss out on the Champions League for the second year in a row. This unfortunate possibility became a reality with the Gunners finishing sixth in the league.
The good thing for Alex is that under Unai Emery, he is put in a better position to succeed. Emery has given him the green light to be creative on the ball and show a little flare. This has boosted his confidence immensely. In 15 appearances this campaign, he has one goal and five assists, and he has the looks of a player who is not far away from finding his best. The 22 year-old winger has a very high ceiling and will be loyal to the club he loves considering it has been his home since
Aging Playmaker
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is in his first full season at the Emirates after the he arrived in January as part of a swap deal that saw Alexis Sanchez move to Manchester United. Of the players involved in that deal, Mkhitaryan has been the better of the two, and it is not even close. He has scored twice in the league already this year. Most recently, he saved a point for Arsenal against Wolves with a cross that found the back of the net. But, he has been a player that has divided opinion among pundits and fans alike.
A similar player that comes to mind is Theo Walcott. We always knew that Walcott had a high ceiling, but he never reached his full potential. He had flashes of brilliance, but never became the Arsenal and England superstar he was touted to be. Mkhitaryan is in need of a solidified home, but the performances have sometimes been underwhelming. If he find consistency, he is a definite starter in this time. Any team would be lucky to have his creativity in addition to Mesut Özil.
Who Has the Edge?
The choice of who starts is not an obvious one and Unai Emery will not reach a conclusion any time soon. Do you choose the 29 year-old who is a talented playmaker but is inconsistent? Is it the 22 year-old homegrown who needs to polish his skills? For me, the choice is Alex Iwobi. He offers more to the Arsenal team than Mkhitaryan in terms of defense and that gives him an edge. Plus, Mkhitaryan is a great option off the bench if Iwobi is struggling or even is they need more out of the number 10 positions. Alex Iwobi has the chance to be an Arsenal star and he represents the club through and through.
Photo credit to Third OP via Flickr
