A few Everton fans have been reacting on social media after Alex Iwobi claimed he has become a “new man” since his summer move from Arsenal.
Iwobi left the Gunners last summer after 14 years in North London and joined the Toffees in an initial £28million deal, which could rise to £34m if certain clauses are met.
The Nigerian has struggled to be a regular of the starting XI at Goodison Park, though, with Iwobi in and out of the line-up under Marco Silva and only able to make his debut under Carlo Ancelotti when we beat Watford at the weekend following a hamstring injury.
But his sporadic minutes, with 12 top-flight starts and five substitute appearances to date, has not dampened Iwobi’s spirit, as the 40-cap winger firmly believes his performances are on the up and will only get better with Ancelotti at the helm.
“This is a whole different game for me,” Iwobi told EvertonTV. “The Evertonians here, not just the players but the fans and staff, everyone wants to give 100 per cent. I am enjoying that side of the game.
“It has made me a new man in that sense. I wasn’t particularly like that [at Arsenal], but I have had to buy into it and show more hunger when I am playing and towards the fans.
Should Iwobi start vs Palace on Saturday?
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“It is good for me. Here, I have to focus tactically when we do not have the ball. I have to track back a bit more, carry out more defensive duties.
“No matter who I play for, I give 100 per cent. Everton are making me do that and I am enjoying it.”
Iwobi has scored once in the Premier League and once in the Carabao Cup since arriving on Merseyside last summer, when he signed a five-year contract worth £50,000-per-week.
The 23-year-old has also played in a number of positions with eight outings on the left-hand side, seven on the right and five as the central playmaking figure.
Not many have a greater rate of key passes than Iwobi, too, as the forward averages 1.4 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League, per WhoScored data, while Lucas Digne leads the way with 2.4 ahead of Gylfi Sigurdsson (2.2) and Bernard (1.8).
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Iwobi’s claim of being a “new man” at Goodison Park…
I’ve got a sneaky feeling this lad is going to come good for us…one Top coach can change a players attributes and then they never look back..✌🏻👍🏻💙💪🏻 go ed Alex Lad!
— Kristofor (@Kristof36760842) February 5, 2020
That’s what we like to see!
— Andres☯Martinez911 (@newevolution911) February 5, 2020
I like him tbf … I honestly believe he’ll get better
— BriMc (@BrianMcElhinne5) February 5, 2020
He needs to be playing through the middle i think hes wasted talent out wide but through the middle he offeres something different to what we have
— Nathan EFC (@Nathan_Dutton23) February 5, 2020
He’s been getting played out of position ever since he got here, but puts in an absolute shift every time he’s on the pitch. Really really like him.
— Calzone (@ACaseOfBluez) February 5, 2020
💙
— Olivier Greenwood (@OlivGreenwood) February 5, 2020
In other Everton news, the club face paying £30m to sign a rumoured target in the summer after seeing offers rejected in January.