Nigeria’s Alex Iwobi found himself on the losing side as Fulham fell 2-0 to Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday night. His compatriot, Calvin Bassey, remained an unused substitute as Marco Silva’s side suffered their ninth league defeat of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign.
Goals from Mikel Merino and Anglo-Nigerian forward Bukayo Saka sealed victory for the Gunners, leaving the visitors frustrated in their pursuit of a positive result.
Despite his limited time on the pitch, Iwobi made an impact in his 23-minute cameo against Arsenal. He almost provided an assist when he raced past Thomas Partey on the break and delivered a pinpoint cross to Rodrigo Muniz, who missed a golden opportunity from close range.
Muniz later redeemed himself with a goal in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late for Fulham.
Why was Alex Iwobi benched vs Arsenal?
Iwobi started the game on the bench, a decision likely influenced by his involvement in Fulham’s FA Cup quarterfinal clash against Crystal Palace just days earlier. The Nigerian midfielder played significant minutes in that fixture, which ended in a disappointing 3-0 home defeat at Craven Cottage.
Bassey, who also featured in that match, was similarly left out of the starting lineup against Arsenal, suggesting Silva opted to rotate his squad following a demanding cup outing.
Iwobi has enjoyed a productive 2024/25 Premier League season, establishing himself as a crucial figure in Marco Silva’s system.
The Super Eagles star has made 30 league appearances, scoring seven goals and providing three assists. His direct involvement in 28% of Fulham’s league goals this season keeps him firmly in the conversation for the club’s Player of the Season award.
Beyond his goal contributions, the 28-year-old leads Europe’s top five leagues in progressive carries into the final third, having done so 86 times in the Premier League this season.
