Steven Gerrard insists the sky is the limit for Joe Aribo and hopes he will keep working with the new Super Eagles invitee for years to come, Completesports.com reports.
The Rangers midfielder capped a super showing as he scored the winner in a 3-0 win over East Fife to set up a Betfred Cup quarterfinal clash against Livingston next month.
Gerrard was left purring at the 23-year-old’s display at the Bayview Stadium for a much-changed Light Blues’ side with Jermain Defoe and Ross Dunlop’s own goal also ensuring that Rangers progressed to the quarterfinals.
Aribo, 23, was signed for free from Charlton Athletic in the summer and has been called up to the Nigeria squad for their September 10 friendly against Ukraine after an impressive start to life at Ibrox.
“Everyone will go away talking about Joe Aribo and rightly so. I am not sure how many good players have been at this stadium, but I don’t think you will see many better than Joe [Aribo],” Gerrard said of Aribo after the win against East Fife at Bayview Stadium.
“Joe can go as far as he wants. I hope he stays alongside me for many years, but he’s got the world at his feet.
“I can’t wait to work with him for longer. He was all over the pitch and covered every blade. He got his goal, he put in a tackle in the 85th minute when we were 3-0 up and he did everything right.
“He was outstanding from start to finish. He looked superb all day. He has four goals in eight games but it isn’t just about that it is about your all round performances.
“Top players turn up anywhere, it doesn’t matter if it is in front of 50,000, or 1,500, your standards are always the same and from day one Joe has done that.
“He was one who I was keen to get done and when I knew there was a chance I was all over it and did everything I could to get it over the line.
“I saw his potential and how much he wants it. It was a big change moving away from London but he has taken to it so smoothly.
“He has got so many attributes. It’s okay having them but if you have the right mentality and character you can go as far as you want to go.
“Joe expresses himself. He just loves playing football. He is robust, he’s leggy, rangy, can score a goal, can set them up, he tackles, he wins balls back, he’s skilful. He ticks every box and with experience he is only going to get better.”
9 Comments
I an yet to see this guy play oh, I can’t wait for the friendly match to happen
4 goals in 8 games is very good for a midfielder, he will get better after training with the Super Eagles.
Hopefully,we have got a gem.Can’t wait to see this much talked about player.I hope he has a dream debut for the super eagles and have a remarkable career thereafter.
Apparently,when a top lad like Gérard lauds a player in this manner,then you have to accept he’s very good.
How a great talent like Aribo wasn’t capped by England at youth level bearts my imagination.
Can’t complain we obviously are the winners.
Joe Aribo is the real deal. For your coach to have praised you this much and lengthy with these sweet words means a lot. Rangers is one of the best clubs in Scotland but it is not the limit for Joe. He’s gotten the skills to play in any of the top6 premiership clubs. He was linked to arsenal but ended up being a Rangers player and I believe that with time Those big clubs will surely justle to pay heavily for Joe’s football talent.
I can’t wait to see this guy in the super eagles Jersey with Jersey no.19# vacated by John Ogu.
I just finished watching some videos on YouTube on his play.. This aribo is really a wonderful player. I was so impressed with what I saw.. He reminds me of Mikel obi very similar style but he is definitely an improved version of Mikel.. He does leg over alot can dribble very well, very slow on the ball uses his buttocks same way Mikel does similar shot power with that of Mikel but this aribo shots are so filled with accurary and scores many of his shots.. One crazy fact on him I found interesting is that he scores from very tight angles.. all his goals are similar and always From the one side corner which is very difficult to score goals..
We are lucky to have this boy.. He loves the number 17 jersey alot. That’s must be Samuel Kalu jersey number for now but he doesn’t look to me like an attacking midfielder. I think he is box to box midfielder but this boy has goals in his leg no wonder he is calked new yaya toure.
Etebo would need to up his game to bench this boy because from what I saw he is way better than etobo.
He is not slow as a said above but I meant very fast unlike Mikel.. This retirement has really helped out team. I just pray what I watched are truly his qualities.. Others can as well watch his Videos and tell if what u noticed are actually what others see
If you actually follow rangers you will see that all the fans love him, he was the man of the match for many in today’s game.
“Joe expresses himself. He just loves playing football. He is robust, he’s leggy, rangy, can score a goal, can set them up, he tackles, he wins balls back, he’s skilful. He ticks every box and with experience he is only going to get better.”
When you get praise like that from a legend like Gerrard, you must be doing something right. I just hope all this praises he has been getting does not put undue pressure on him. International football is quite different from club football. If Aribo doesn’t get it right against Ukraine, he should not be made to feel it is a do or die affair. We will patiently wait for him to get it right, because we see the tremendous long term potential in him. What he needs now most of all from SE fans is patience, support and understanding. If he gets that, this boy will bring us much smiles in the future!
Ihave been praying for a number 10 like Steven Gerrard and guess what a player who Gerrard is coaching is being invited into the SE I remember why Gerrard could do with the ball for both club and country, I hope How will reenact such skill ftcte national team as well as ckubside now and in the years to come . I pray his coming will make us win titles for the national team as well as for his ckubside .
Mind you , we need more hungry and amazing players to come to the SE