Iwobi savours assist role in Palace defeat

Everton star, Alex Iwobi has reacted to his cheeky backheel assist in the second half of his team’s 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in a Premier League game at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.

Everton had the breakthrough in the 11th minute as Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted past the Crystal Palace goalkeeper after he was fed by Iwobi, before Anthony Gordon doubled the advantage in the 63rd minute after a VAR review.

With a spectacular backheel flick, the Nigeria international laid the ball into the path of Dwight McNeil, who smashed home to make it 3-0.

Iwobi’s fifth assist of the campaign is a contender for assist of the season and the former Arsenal star has said that he was able to pull it off because his confidence is on a high.

Speaking to Everton’s official website, Iwobi said: “On a personal level, I am playing with a lot of confidence.

“The manager tells me, ‘Play the way you train’. You can see I’m very confident and I’m able to express myself on the pitch. For our third goal, I was able to do that with a cheeky little flick.

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“I saw Dwight McNeil running with the ball and then Neal [Maupay] make a first run. I made a second run, Dwight spotted me, and I could see him continuing his run, so I played it into his path. It looked like a great goal, but I have to give credit to Dwight.

“The manager gives me so much belief and, when I have confidence and motivation on the pitch, I feel I’m almost unstoppable.”

Iwobi is one assist away from equaling his personal assists record for a single season, the six he provided in his final season as an Arsenal player in 2018-2019.

The Nigeria international has notched 25 assists from 195 career appearances in the Premier League.