Success brewing for Nigeria's Isaac Success

Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi is not the only 22-year-old Nigerian picking up form under new management. Iwobi’s pacey and wide attacking play has suddenly made him one the favorites amongst the Arsenal faithfuls. With three assists and one goal in five starts for Arsenal in all competitions, many Arsenal fans are hoping to see him become a regular in Unai Emery’s premier league team. There is another Nigerian slowly picking up speed in the Premier League. His name is Isaac Success.

Isaac Success of Watford during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Vicarage Road on August 11, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom.

(Aug. 10, 2018 - Source: Alex Morton/Getty Images Europe)

When the big centre forward wearing Watford’s number 10 shirt slammed the ball into Tottenham’s net after shoving some defenders, many would have wondered who he was. I did, not because I didn’t know Isaac, but this striker game of banging goals from half-chances with the confidence of Didier Drogba was a new thing. This can’t be Success! I thought. At just 22-years of age, Isaac is probably one of the biggest and soon to be fierce center forwards in the English Premier League. It will probably take a few more games and goals to get everyone buzzing, because almost everyone looks at the numbers in this digital age. But it won’t be long now, he looks ready. He still has a lot of things to develop and add to his game and time is what he has. After joining Watford for a club record fee of around £12.5 million from Granada in 2016, Success struggled. He scored a single goal in 23 appearances, with many of them as a substitute. Competition for game time at the club was tough as then marksman Odion Ighalo, compatriot to Success, had cemented a striker position at the club, along with captain Troy Deeney, Watford’s goal scoring centurion. Fast forward a few years later, competition is not any easier even though Ighalo left for the Chinese Super League and Andre Gray came in, stepping up to the plate. What’s different is Isaac Success. A short loan spell in the La Liga with Malaga from January 2018 was not exactly a success as the Nigerian forward score no goals in eight appearances for the side who then faced the chop and got relegated.

“When the big centre forward wearing Watford’s number 10 shirt slammed the ball into Tottenham’s net after shoving some defenders, many would have wondered who he was. I did, not because I didn’t know Isaac, but this striker game of banging goals from half-chances with the confidence of Didier Drogba was a new thing.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

Isaac Success of Watford scores his sides first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Watford at Stadium mk on September 26, 2018 in Milton Keynes, England.

(Sept. 25, 2018 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Isaac Success is still yet to start a premier league game for Watford though manager, Javi Gracia has given him some time in all of their opening seven matches. He is really knocking all doors right now and a start could be in the pipeline. Furthermore, it looks like Isaac timed his “reincarnation” perfectly playing for a re-invigorated Watford side that looks like it will smash all barriers this campaign, currently sitting sixth on the EPL standings, above Manchester United. Nigeria will also be delighted with the resurgence of the young forward especially after having most of their strikers misfiring at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He is like a new signing for both club and country and a welcome one, in the generation of Arsenal’s Iwobi and Kelechi Nwakali, Everton’s Onyekuru and Leicester City’s Iheanacho. Really exciting times for Nigeria!

Next up, Watford will welcome seventh placed Bournemouth to Vicarage Road on Saturday and we will be watching the nominee for Watford’s goal of the month for September. Being big, powerful and bullish - Isaac reminds me of Didier Drogba and Romelu Lukaku’s demeanour. Further success might just be brewing for Isaac Success.

Liverpool hit 5 past Watford

Excellence personified. Mo Salah was at his best when Liverpool faced a Watford side that was still wounded from a 3-0 loss against Arsenal not so long ago. The Egyptian was ready to make the show his as he scored 4 goals and assisted the other for Roberto Firmino. This means that he is at 28 goals in the EPL, four ahead of the injured Harry Kane and is tipped to edge out the rest in the homestretch. Some have started comparisons between the player and the Argentine great, Lionel Messi but his coach, Jurgen Klopp, thinks that it is too soon to mention such names that have done it for 20 years. He however, mentioned that he believes that his player is on his way to be considered one of the best footballers in the world if he keeps his head down and do what he does best which is scoring goals. The race to be the best in the African continent is already finished with his closest competitor Aubameyang of Gabon also joining the Premier League in January but failing to keep up with Salah’s stats. Is Salah there yet? Tell us what you think.

Arsenal Win 3-0 Against Watford

Arsenal are seemingly beginning to bounce back after a long difficult spell. Arsene Wenger’s side dispatched Watford by 3 goals to nil in the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. This is their first win in after losing 3 games straight before this match. Mustafi scored the opener from a Mesut Ozil cross before Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang scored the second thanks to a Mkhitaryan assist on 59 minutes. It was a delight to see the striker celebrate with his traditional summersault which is very familiar to those that followed him during his days in Germany. The pair combined once again like they did in Dortmund as this time the striker turned provider to Mkhitaryan’s goal in the 77th minute. It is also worth mentioning that Petr Cech saved Troy Deeney’s penalty and went on to secure his record 200th clean sheet in the Premier League. The keeper got the man of the match award after making some fine saves in the match. Mesut Ozil’s assist makes him the fastest player to reach 50 Premier League assists in 141 matches. What a day to remember for the record-breaking duo!