Eagles stars, Iwobi, Iheanacho target first Premier League opening weekend goal
Super Eagles strikers Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho will be setting their sights on scoring their first opening Premier League weekend goal when their clubs Everton and Leicester City host Everton and Brentford respectively in their first fixture of the 2022/23 campaign.
While Iwobi who shone brightly for Everton and played a key role in their Premier League survival will be keen to go one better than his two opening weekend assists.
The 26 year old bagged an assist for Arsenal in the Gunners’ 3-4 loss to Liverpool at the Emirates stadium in their opening game of the 2016/17 season.
Iwobi also provided an assist in Everton’s 3-1 defeat of Southampton at the Goodison Park on the opening day of the 201/22 Premier League season.
The Super Eagle will now be hoping to turn from provider to scorer when Everton host Chelsea on August 6 at Goodison Park.
It will be his 11th appearance against the former Premier League champions and the Nigerian has scored once in the competition against the West London side.
For Iheanacho, the visit of Brentford should afford him the chance of scoring in his club’s opening weekend fixture.
The 25 year old had a near indifferent 2021/2022 season and will hope to hit the ground running this time when Brentford visit the King Palace stadium on Saturday August 6.
Iheanacho has started just once in seven opening weekend fixtures and that was at Old Trafford where his club, Leicester City lost 2-1 to Manchester United in the 2018/2019 season.
Prior to that the former Manchester City player had made just two substitute appearances and a full 90 minutes on the bench while after the start he has been benched twice in 2019/20 and 2020/21.
He however featured for the last 18 minutes in regulation time last season when the Foxes defeated Wolves 1-0 at the King Palace stadium.
Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka will also be eager to score their first opening weekend games from their defensive midfield position.
For Emmanuel Dennis and Ademola Lookman, their Premier League status depends on if they are bought or loaned by a Premier League club.
If the latter prevails, then both will be seeking for their second opening weekend goal.
Dennis made history last term when he scored and assisted on his Premier League debut for Watford against Aston Villa. The match happened to be the Hornets’ first game of the new 2021/22 season.
Lookman on his part was one of the scorers when his club in the 2016/17 season, Everton walloped Manchester City 4-0 at Goodison Park on the opening weekend of the new season.