Alex Iwobi’s 25 yard stunner against Manchester United on Sunday evening was Everton’s 1,500th in the Premier League.
Capitalising on an error from Casemiro, who found himself dispossessed in midfield, the Nigeria international received the ball on the edge of the box before opening up his body and curling an unstoppable strike beyond David de Gea.
The goal, scored on five minutes gave the Toffees the lead before goals from Anthony (15th minute) and Cristiano Ronaldo (44th minute) ensured the visitors left with all three points.
It was the Nigerian’s first in the Premier League after nine games this season, fifth in 92 appearances for the Toffees since he joined in August 2019 and 16th in 192 games overall in the competition since he made his debut in October 2015.
Iwobi has been in fine form of late, providing three assists in his last four Premier League matches prior to Sunday’s game at Goodison Park. And he maintained his purple patch with a goal right out of the top drawer as the Toffees took the lead against United.
The Super Eagle, who signed from Arsenal three years ago last month, joined the Blues aged 23, having made 149 appearances for the Gunners and winning the FA Cup and reaching the Europa League final along the way.
He has however flattered to deceive in his first two and half years at the club with the arrival of Frank Lampard marking the turning point in his career.
Now, he has firmly established himself as one of the most important players in the squad.
But was there ever a moment where he thought things wouldn’t work out at Everton?
“No,” Iwobi says in the Everton matchday programme before the Manchester United game.
“I never had the mindset that it wasn’t going to work here.
“I had the mindset that I’d turn it around and when the opportunity came with the new manager, I used it as a new chapter of my life and said to myself, ‘Forget the past. What’s happened has happened… Now let’s go again’.
“What I realised here is fans appreciate 100 per cent, as long as you show that you can do everything because there’s a reason you’re here at Everton – because you have ability.”
