Alex Iwobi was once again one of the few positives in the Everton side as they lost 2-1 to Aston Villa in their Premier League clash at Villa Park today.
Super Eagles star Iwobi excelled in central midfield in Everton’s Premier League opener at home to Chelsea last weekend and he was in fine fettle again today, earning the praise of his club’s fans.
Although Everton have now lost their first two Premier League fixtures of the new season, Iwobi has acquitted himself well in a role he has not played too often.
The Nigeria was in full-time action today at Villa Park, running the middle of the park as goals from Danny Ings and Emiliano Buendia handed the hosts their first three points of the season.
Ings struck in the 31st minute with a fierce shot from the edge of the box after Everton lost possession in Villa’s half and the hosts worked the ball to the former Liverpool striker.
Buendia, who replaced Philippe Coutinho on the hour mark, made sure of victory for Steven Gerrard’s side with the second goal in the 85th minute.
There was still time for a nervous finish though, as former Everton defender Lucas Digne scored an own goal to make it 2-1 with three minutes left in regulation time.
Despite the defeat, Everton fans and even non-Everton fans, during and after the match, took to social media to sing the praises of Iwobi.
“Iwobi great again in central midfield but gonna be another dreadful season if we don’t sign a decent striker,” one Liam Collins wrote on Twitter.
“Get Onana in the middle with Iwobi and play a striker from now on. Could’ve done that today,” RyanG78 wrote.
An apparent Arsenal fan, with the username Paddy Arsenal, joked that Iwobi is back to being Austin Jay Jay Okocha’s nephew.
“Iwobi is back in form, he’s Jay-Jay Okocha’s nephew again,” he wrote.
“Alex Iwobi, itts not even one of those like ‘He’s better than what he used to be’, he’s genuinely really, really good,” claimed Evertonian Jamie.
Everton Hub, a Twitter community of Everton fans, also joined hundreds of others in hailing the performance of the Nigerian.
“Anyway, Alex Iwobi is really really good, it isn’t coincidence anymore,” they wrote.
“Another strong performance from maximum effort Alex Iwobi. That (own) goal was just reward for his persistence,” Royal Blue Mersey, an Everton blog, tweeted.
