Why Alex Iwobi Is the Player Arsenal Should Loan out in January

With the January transfer window open, this is Arsene Wenger’s best opportunity to reshuffle his squad. As well as bringing in any new signings, the Gunners may also choose to allow one or two players to leave—even just temporarily. One such candidate for a loan move could be Nigerian youngster Alex Iwobi.

It might initially seem strange to allow Iwobi to go just as he’s making his breakthrough. Iwobi made his first Emirates Stadium start in the 3-1 FA Cup win over Sunderland, and after the game Wenger was moved to praise his performance. Per Arsenal.com:

"I liked the timing of his passes. In the middle of the park that is a vital quality and that fact he plays forward and sees [things]. As a young boy he is not afraid to come on and that is not easy."

Wenger was understandably impressed. With Mesut Ozil rested, Iwobi was played as the team’s primary playmaker in the No. 10 role.

That’s a huge responsibility for any young player, but Iwobi remained undaunted. Throughout the game, he constantly tried to make things happen. When he had the ball at his feat, he was not afraid to drive at defenders, embarking on slaloming dribbles through the Sunderland defence.

The weight of his passing was also excellent. It seems Iwobi is an instinctive judge of how to distribute play efficiently and effectively in the final third. He is not tentative, pinging balls into his team-mates’ feet and bringing the ball instantly under control when they return the favour.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

Although he had featured in the Capital One Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and made a couple of substitute cameos since then, this was the first time since pre-season that Iwobi really showed his mettle in the first team.

However, good though he was, it’s unrealistic to expect him to become a regular contributor to the side. Over the next few weeks, the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are all expected to return to the first-team fold.

They, like Iwobi, will be competing for one of the three attacking-midfield spots in Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 system. Throw in the surprise development of Joel Campbell, and it’s clear that Iwobi’s opportunities will be limited in the coming months.

It would be foolish for Wenger to allow the player's progress to stall by returning him to the academy side. At this fragile point in his development, what he needs is regular football to help him improve.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

The obvious solution is to send him out on loan. Iwobi would feature more often with one of the Premier League’s smaller teams or even a Championship club.

There’s no guarantee of a loan spell working—Serge Gnabry has barely got a kick at Tony Pulis’ West Brom—but player and manager alike must accept that for now the Nigerian international has more chance of gaining experience at another club.

Wenger may want to wait until the end of the window to assess Arsenal’s injury situation before letting Iwobi go.

However, assuming the Arsenal squad is in a healthier position at the end of January, the Frenchman should consider letting Iwobi join another club temporarily. Come the summer, Arsenal would most likely get back a considerably improved player.

 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.