Another weekend went by and Arsenal finally got a victory in the Premier League with Alex Iwobi the center of attraction. The 19 year old Nigerian international was voted man of the match as the Gunners grabbed all three points at Godison Park with two first half goals from Danny Welbeck and Iwobi.
It was a first Premier League start for the teenager and he made the manager proud by paying him with a good goal. It would be recalled that Iwobi made his first Champions League start few days ago at the Camp Nou against the likes of Messi and Suarez and Nigerians will be happy he will don the green and whites of the Super Eagles.
He is an intelligent boy who is passionate about the game and wants to learn. He is very humble as well. He is 19 years old. He has been at the club since the age of eight. I was looking at him in training during the season and in pre-season and I liked what he did. After that, he improved very quickly with the first team. Month after month, he developed very well and that is why I integrated him and played him
– Wenger on Iwobi
It was looking like a rare feeling of victory on Saturday. Despite the early kickoff, it took Danny Welbeck 7 minutes to register Arsenal’s intent against Everton. The Gunners may have added more goals if Mark Clattenburg got his calls better. A clean sheet and a good win warms the heart of every Gooner. Leicester City and Spurs also won but we will continue to win till the end.
Two of Nigeria’s three representatives in the continent were knocked out. Warri Wolves lost 1-0 away to Al-Merrikh (2-0 aggregate) and Nasarawa United were beaten 4-1 (4-2 aggregate) in Algeria by CS Constantine. Enyimba lost 2-1 to Vital’O but progressed with a 6-3 aggregate win to face Etoile Du Sahel of Tunisia. They met 4 times in 2004 – twice in the group stage and twice in the final. It is going to be a juicy encounter.
In the NPFL, Giwa FC grabbed the only away win of the Matchday as Amos Gyang’s 88th minute cracker broke the hearts of Ikorodu United. The Oga boys, as Ikorodu United is known, were recently promoted and hired a new coach in Sam Okpodu. Unfortunately, they recorded their first home loss of the season. Reality check for the Lagos boys.
The other Lagos based team were pipped in Owerri by Heartland, Rangers defeated Akwa United 3-0 to move to the top of the table while Plateau United came from behind to defeat Lobi Stars 2-1. IfeanyiUbah lost 2-1 away to El-Kanemi Warriors despite opening scoring first in Katsina. Prior to yesterday, the Anambra Warriors had not lost an away league game they score first (@OptaNGR). Records are meant to be broken.
As we head into the international break, the NPFL will have some mid-week actions involving teams that were on the continent. Enyimba, Warri Wolves and Nasarawa United will play their 4th league game of the season.
ICYMI: Ahmed Musa grabbed a brace for CSKA Moscow to keep them at the top of the Russian League and Iwobi is already in the Super Eagles camp.
Enjoy
SoccerGunz 