Michael Stewart wowed by one ‘Impressive’ Rangers player after win v St Johnstone
Michael Stewart was impressed by Joe Aribo’s performance on Wednesday night as Rangers won 3-0 against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Steven Gerrard’s men ensured they kept their 16-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table with a victory in Perth that came courtesy of goals by Kemar Roofe, Glen Kamara and Ianis Hagi.
Aribo, 24, was not among the goals for the Gers but did assist Kamara’s goal in the first half.
Rangers fans took to Twitter to heap praise on the midfielder’s performance while former Hibernian and Hearts player Stewart also waxed lyrical about him.
“He’s an impressive player,” Stewart told BBC Sportscene on Wednesday night.
“Playing in one of those attacking midfielder roles. You look at that, it was a great pass for Kamara, the other midfielder who’s getting forward here.”
Stewart added: “Look at these areas he’s getting into. He’s cutting open defences with these passes.
“It was not a night to remember for [St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark] but for Joe Aribo, he’s certainly somebody who’s going from strength to strength.
“You look at that Rangers side and at full-strength, the only position with question marks about it is if Kemar Roofe plays as a number nine, that second player, that number 10.
“[Ryan] Kent can play there and I think Joe Aribo’s probably the other one you would look to play in that position and based on that performance, you think he would be sticking there.”
Aribo keeps on shining
We don’t have any doubts about James Tavernier winning Rangers’ player of the season award because what he has done so far this term will be almost impossible for anyone to best. But Aribo is someone who should be considered as second-best.
The former Charlton player has made 17 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, scoring four goals and supplying two assists in the process.
If he wasn’t sidelined for a couple of months with an ankle injury there’s no doubt that those numbers would be higher.
According to Wyscout, the Nigeria international averages more smart passes than any other player in the whole of the Scottish Premiership per 90 minutes of game-time [2.92].
Aribo also ranks third for touches inside the opposition’s penalty area per 90 minutes [5.14] and seventh for one-versus-one dribbles per full game [6.67].
Rangers fans, week in and week out, are watching one of the best creative players in the league and he’s just one reason as to why Gerrard’s side has scored so many goals this season.
In other Rangers news, fans were drooling over this “ridiculous” player in the win against St Johnstone.