Former Glasgow Rangers and Denmark international Brian Laudrup has hailed the quality of the Scottish side’s Nigerian midfielder, Joe Aribo, as an important player who provides the vital spark that propels Steven Gerrard’s team.
Laudrup who turned out brilliantly as Rangers player between 1994 and 1998 currently does television pundit job for Kanal 5. He was quite adept as a winger and midfielder during his playing days for his clubs and Denmark.
The former Bayern Munich star while speaking to Daily Mail, said that Aribo’s spark was sourly missed in Rangers’ goalless draw with home side Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Sunday. The Nigerian missed the Scottish Premier League match through an ankle injury.
“There are times when it takes the unexpected to win a match. A combination of quick thinking and even quicker feet,” Laudrup told Daily Mail.
“Without Joe Aribo, Rangers lacked that spark against Livingston on Sunday. The longer the game went on, the more I felt he was really missed.
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“Clearly, Steven Gerrard will be hoping Aribo’s ankle injury heals before Kilmarnock visit Ibrox on Saturday. To me, there are two aspects to what the 24-year-old does. There is obviously his own game and the skill-set he brings.”
The Danish legend also remarked that Aribo’s style of play brings out best of other players around him, an attribute he admires so much about the Nigerian.
Laudrup added: “But I also think he has the effect of making the players around him even better.
“He brings people into action with his one-twos and I love the fact that he looks forward every time he gets the ball. That’s exactly what you need in midfield at Rangers. Someone has to be thinking: ‘Where can I find the pockets of space? How do we play between the lines?’
“If that is not done as quickly as possible, it becomes hugely difficult against a team such as Livingston — who often played with six across the back.
“There will be no space where you want it. The space will be areas you cannot really exploit,” Laudrup concluded.
