Iwobi replaces Sanchez

The exit of Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United may have created a suitable position for Super Eagles striker, Alex Iwobi, as he is being tipped to replace the Chilean in Arsenal’s starting eleven for the time being, until Arsene Wenger signs a capable replacement.

This is coming just as Dutch club, MVV Maastricht, has confirmed the loan signing of Nigeria U-20 international Kelechi Nwakali from Arsenal.

According to www.allnigeriansoccer.com, Iwobi is better than the Chile international in four key performance statistics: passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, average duels won and average defensive actions.

Iwobi might be underrated right now due to his inconsistent performances this term, but the winger has a shot accuracy of 70 percent, whereas Sanchez has 57 percent.

The Super Eagle has completed an impressive 86 percent of his passes, compared to the Chilean who has a passing accuracy of 73 percent.

With an average defensive action of one, Iwobi is better than Sanchez who has zero. The Nigeria wonderkid has won 52 percent of his duels, while the Chilean has won 49 percent.

The Hale End Academy product was expected to make his 22nd appearance of the season in all competitions when Arsenal tackled Victor Moses’s Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.

Meanwhile, Nwakali had to be recalled from a loan spell at VVV Venlo due to his lack of first-team opportunities, and has penned a deal that will keep him at MVV for the rest of the 2017-2018 campaign.

”Last season we have already seen that Kelechi is a multifunctional attacking midfielder, who has a nose for the ‘final pass’,” coach Ron Elsen told MVV’s official website.

”He returns in an attacking and dominant way of playing, as MVV wants to use it. He can get away at ’10’, but also as a winger.

”At VVV Venlo he has also shown at Eredivisie that he can be of value for the team in which he plays. At MVV Maastricht, however, he can collect even more minutes of play.

”We know what we can and should expect from him. That has absolutely weighed in our decision to bring him back to Maastricht.”

Nwakali played 34 official matches for MVV Maastricht during the past season, in which he managed to find the net three times.