Iwobi 'Proud To Be An Evertonian' As He Makes Vow To Fans

Alex Iwobi says he “feels like an Evertonian” and has immediately settled at Goodison Park.

Forward Iwobi joined Everton on transfer deadline day last month and scored against Wolverhampton Wanderers on his full Premier League debut for the Club, having marked his first start in similar fashion when netting in the Blues' Carabao Cup victory at Lincoln City.

Iwobi’s flying start represented the perfect answer to Marco Silva’s call for the player to add more goals to his game.

The 23-year-old scored 15 in 149 appearances for Arsenal. Last term he found the net six times in 51 games and added nine assists.

And Iwobi admits he has come to Everton to shed the ‘youngster’ tag which followed him at boyhood club Arsenal and “prove myself as a player”.

“From the moment I came here, I was welcomed really nicely and I feel like an Evertonian,” said Iwobi.

“I am proud to be here and I want to show my teammates and the fans that I will give 100 per cent for them.

“It was good to open my account. The position I play – the main thing you get noticed for is goals and assists.

“It is not the first time I’ve heard it [the manager’s demand for him to score more]. I even set myself targets each game to at least create a chance or try to have shots on goal.

“I want to better myself and it [scoring and assisting] is something I want to work at.

 
“I came through at Arsenal and was probably always viewed as a youngster for that reason.

“It is time for me to make a name for myself, to try to become a big player.

“I will have an opportunity at Everton to express myself, the manager and players have given me the freedom to do that.

“It is a new challenge and I am ready for it.”

Iwobi came off the bench for his first Everton appearance at Aston Villa three weeks ago and was the width of a post from getting off the mark in that match.

He twice came close at Lincoln before nodding in from Cenk Tosun’s set up.

Gyfli Sigurdsson’s arrowing cross enabled Iwobi to head home in Everton’s 3-2 victory over Wolves a fortnight ago.

Of his 15 Arsenal goals and six for Nigeria, only one came with his head.

Iwobi doesn’t mind how they come, though, his Everton double further smoothing an adaptation process which has been aided by the support of his teammates.

 
“I will always try to score goals... with my left foot, right foot or my head,” said Iwobi.

“As long as they go in – I just want to get my tally up.

“When you are comfortable and having fun you are able to perform on the pitch.

“But the main thing is the team getting good results – that is my main goal.

“I felt it was easy to adjust to the Club because of my teammates and the staff here, they have all helped me to do as well as I am.

“Tom Davies and Dominic Calvert-Lewin asked me to sit on their table at breakfast, so I am with them every day now.”

Everton’s success over Wolves made it two wins from two at home this season and stretched the Blues’ unbeaten Goodison record to a seventh game.

On the road, Everton have won one and drawn three of their past six. Silva’s side carved open Crystal Palace plenty of times on this season’s first day and were frustrated to draw 0-0.

They passed up a handful of presentable opportunities in defeat at Villa, too.

But Iwobi is confident Everton can replicate their Goodison form outside L4, particularly off the back of hitting seven goals in two games.

The Blues' next opportunity to win away comes in the Premier League at Bournemouth on Sunday.

“We try to carry that home form into away games,” added Iwobi.

“It is just converting our chances….which we have been working hard on in training. The past two games we’ve scored seven goals. The goals will come and I sure we can improve that away form.

“It’s going to be tough at Bournemouth. They have got some good players and games against them are never easy.

“They have that fighting spirit, but so do we. We know it is not going to be easy but we will go there with the right mindset.”