Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi vs Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – A Statistical Comparison
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool managed to land Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain late in the summer transfer window but there are a lot questions about his role in the squad at Anfield. Having failed to start a single league game yet, the Ox has been reduced to just 92 minutes of Premier League football and has not been able to impress Klopp yet.
Nigerian attacker Alex Iwobi, however, has benefited from this move as he has managed to regularly get into the first-team at the Emirates, and now has four games under his belt, with 251 minutes on the field. But has Iwobi taken care of Ox’s absence? Here is a statistical review of the two players for their efforts in the league this season.
Iwobi has already opened his account for Arsenal with his goal against Brighton a few weeks back. He has no assists to his name so far, similar to Chamberlain, who has not found the back of the net yet for Liverpool. Both players have a goal each in their European encounters, however, making it an even battle.
With a pass completion of 94% in the PL, the Liverpool man has created 3.91 chances with 3.91 key passes per 90 minutes so far this season. In comparison, Iwobi has a passing accuracy of 90% and has created 2.15 chances in 2.15 key passes per 90 minutes this season.
The Ox has not been handed regular chances, but whenever he has been handed one, he has never failed with an attempted dribble past a player. He has a successful take-on-rate of 100% compared to just 60% by Iwobi. The Ox also wins 33.33% of his aerial duels while Iwobi is yet to win one this season.
However, the Arsenal man wins 54.55% of his total duels, while the Ox has just 33.33% of success in duels with his opponents. Both players have made an interception each this season so far and are not easy to separate, at least in terms of numbers.
But the fact that Liverpool’s summer buy is already being branded a flop while Iwobi remains one of Arsenal’s most important players tells a tale of its own.
Oxlade Chamberlain will now fight for a place in the first-team while Iwobi will only lose his when all his teammates are fit. So it is not going to be easy for the 21-year old Iwobi to establish himself as one of the best in his position.