EPL Wrap: Iwobi, Billing Score; Ndidi Outstanding; Success, Iheanacho Late Subs; Balogun Goes 90; Moses Frozen Out

Published: December 22, 2018

A round-up of Nigerian players that were in action for their respective clubs in the English Premier League on Saturday, December 22.

Nigerian players with dual nationalities and have played competitively for the senior national teams of other countries have been omitted.

In the early kickoff at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Burnley thanks to a brace from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Iwobi's first goal in four months after coming off the bench in the 78th minute.

England U19 star Bukayo Saka, 17, made the match day squad for a Premier League match for the first time in his career.

At the Vitality Stadium, a brace from David Brooks saw Bournemouth claim a 2-0 win against Leon Balogun's Brighton & Hove.

The Nigeria international defender went the distance for the third game in a row and is expected to return to the starting line-up for their Boxing Day fixture against Arsenal after defensive partner Lewis Dunk was sent off today for a second bookable offense.

Cherries number 10, Jordon Ibe came on in the second minute of stoppage time while Flying Eagles star Nnamdi Ofoborh was not in the 18.

Elsewhere, Leicester City caused an upset after beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga produced an outstanding save to deny Wilfred Ndidi from scoring with a long-range effort in the 42nd minute.

Ndidi was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon for a foul on Eden Hazard in the 31st minute.

The Super Eagles midfielder, who passed a fitness test ahead of today's clash, went the distance, while Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Leicester City's match winner Jamie Vardy on 84 minutes.

Former Nigeria international Victor Moses was not in The Blues 18 as expected.

In West Yorkshire, it is back-to-back wins for Southampton after their 3-1 win against Huddersfield Town at The John Smith's Stadium .

Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings scored to give the Saints a 2-0 lead at the interval, Philip Billing halved the deficit in the 58th minute before Michael Obafemi scored his first senior goal to make it 3-1 six minutes after he came off the bench.

The Denmark U21 international who has been approached by the Nigerian Federation ahead of the 2019 AFCON played the full game.

To East London, goals from Troy Deeney and Gerard Deulofeu won the points for Watford in a 2-0 victory against West Ham.

Nigeria international Isaac Success kept his record of being involved in every single game contested by the Hornets this season after he was introduced in the 86th minute. Teammate Stefano Okaka was a non-playing sub.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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