Arsenal coach, Unai Emery has hinted at more game time off the bench for The Gunners’ Nigerian star, Alex Iwobi, as the gaffer says the Super Eagles dazzler provides him with the opportunity of making tactical variations during matches, footballlive.ng reports.
While many observers would interpret Iwobi’s recent absences from Arsenal’s starting line-up and coming off the bench later in matches, Emery says it is because the youngster has the ability of turning things round at crucial periods of any game.
Incidentally, Arsenal have not lost any of the six matches in which Iwobi was introduced as a substitute, with wins against Everton, Watford, Huddersfield Town and Burnley.
The run also included draws with Liverpool and Brighton, such that Emery’s words about Iwobi’s tactical variations might not be off track after all.
Iwobi also emerged as the game-changer when he replaced Aaron Ramsey in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Watford in September and his team threatened more when he went on against Huddersfield and Burnley.
Emery explained: ”A lot of the matches when we play in the second half, for example Iwobi, it helps us with a different situation tactically.
”In other matches, when we changed for the second half we took the performance to go to win.
“For me, it is only tactically and not player, and for me every player is the same.”
