Iwobi poised for 160th EPL game against Villa

Iwobi poised for 160th EPL game against Villa..

Alex Iwobi is in line to make his 160th Premier League game when Everton play Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday, Punch Sports Extra reports.

The Nigerian midfielder made his EPL debut on October 27, 2015 for Arsenal against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium, as a stoppage time substitute for Mesut Ozil while playing for Arsenal.

He has so far made 159 EPL appearances (100 for Arsenal and 59 for Everton), scoring 13 goals with 19 assists.

He has also recorded 73 wins and lost 51 times in the English topflight.

In his 100 games for the Gunners, the Super Eagles midfielder – who made 70 starts with 30 substitute appearances – found the back of the net 11 times, while for Everton – who he joined in 2019 – he has played 59 times (37 starts and 22 off the substitutes bench).

So far, he has only scored two EPL goals for the Toffees, an area the 24-year-old vowed to improve on.

“My aim is to get more goals and assists,” Iwobi told Everton website.

“As I say, he (Rafa Benitez) demands a lot on me – but I’m willing to put the work in to better myself and the team.

“It’s been going really well so far. He’s put a lot of faith and trust in me and, as a player, that’s what you need.

“He (Benitez) said to me that I’m an attacker and attackers really get noticed for their goals and assists, so he’s been working with me on getting into the box more, trying to get into spaces where I can get an assist or get a goal.”

The former Arsenal winger also spoke about his best position for club and country.

He said, “I think playing different roles has helped me to understand the game a bit more, especially those defensive roles. I’m not going to complain – playing right wing-back, right midfield, left midfield, I’ll play anywhere and I’ll always give my best.

“If I’m asked to do it at right wing-back, then I’ll do it and try my best!

“I think, for Everton, my best position for the team is probably out wide.

“For my national team, it’s completely different and I do like playing in the midfield as a number 8 or number 10.

“I feel like I can play in any position. For each manager and each team it’s going to be different.”

On Everton’s trip to Aston Villa, he added, “We know it’s not going to be easy. They’re coming off the back of that defeat to Chelsea, so they’ll no doubt be hungry and fired up for this game, especially with it being at home for them.

“Villa are a strong team. But we’re unbeaten and we’ll take that confidence into the game. Hopefully we can go and get the result.”