Better than Zidane, Arsenal’s Pepe and Ozil? High Praise Flows In For Alex Iwobi Following Fine Display In Everton’s Victory Over West Ham

The Nigeria international saw action for 88 minutes before he was pulled off for a player who went on to score the Toffees' second goal of the afternoon, yet fans could not stop singing his praises for a job well done.

On a day when Everton manager Marcos Silva was desperate for victory – or face the sack – he chose to place his trust on Alex Iwobi as his team's number 10 and he was rewarded with a fine performance from the former Arsenal man.

Alex Iwobi did not score neither did he provide any assist but he was positive in his play and was generally too hot to handle as Everton finally arrested a rotten form of consecutive losses to beat West Ham 2-0 on Saturday, thanks to goals from Bernard and Sigurdsson.

The 23-year-old Nigerian playmaker completed more final third passes than any other player on the pitch between Everton and West Ham, two of which directly lead to a shot, Soccernet.ng reports.

In a player ratings done after the game by Liverpool Echo, Iwobi scored a 9/10 for being a “creative hub in the middle for Everton, looking to attack West Ham whenever picking up possession. They had no idea how to deal with him in the first half and his work rate never dropped until being replaced by Sigurdsson late on.”

Fans also took to social media site Twitter to express their pleasure at Iwobi's fine display.

https://www.twitter.com/StatmanDave/status/1185531387522224129

Iwobi playing centrally is different gravy.

— Sash ~ (@ltarsenal) October 19, 2019

https://www.twitter.com/PartAdam/status/1185533297142697989

https://www.twitter.com/MinasNathan99/status/1185524749872615425

What's Iwobi doing pic.twitter.com/hZymbmMu0I

— ~ (@efcIucas) October 19, 2019

Iwobi when he’s playing as a #10. pic.twitter.com/skI6zAxgz2

— . (@utdcynical) October 19, 2019

Arsenal actually spent £72m on a player who isn’t even as good as Iwobi. pic.twitter.com/6RCNKLcK8r

— CFC (@ChelseaJF14) October 19, 2019

Alex Iwobi in the number 10 position is causing Mark Noble more concern than today's Brexit vote

— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 19, 2019

https://www.twitter.com/StatmanDave/status/1185548519270211585

https://www.twitter.com/CFCBrano/status/1185537535193354240

https://www.twitter.com/CephiEtta/status/1185551598539415552

https://www.twitter.com/thetoffees_com/status/1185546998885343238

https://www.twitter.com/rogbennett/status/1185547191173165057