{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
'Frustrates the life out of me' - Scott McDermott annoyed by Rangers star
Joe Aribo’s dip in form is a worry and Rangers should be seeing much more from him, according to Scott McDermott on the Record Rangers Podcast.
The Gers dropped their first Scottish Premiership points since September 20 when they drew 1-1 at Motherwell on Sunday with a lethargic display drawing the ire of fans, and Aribo was unable to pose much influence on the game and continued his barren goalscoring run that now stretches to 13 games.
Surprisingly he did last the full 90 minutes at Fir Park as Steven Gerrard showed his faith in the 24-year-old, though the absence of the likes of Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack might have contributed to that.
McDermott, chief football writer at the Sunday Mail and co-host of Record Rangers believes that there is much more to come from the Nigeria international, saying: “I don’t think Aribo has done enough.
“Aribo frustrates the life out of me, not because I think he’s a bad player, it’s the opposite. I think he’s such a talented player who has got so many attributes, so many things in his locker, and you just don’t see it enough.”
He added: “I don’t think Gerrard and the Rangers fans are getting enough out of Aribo at the moment. When [Ianis] Hagi got taken off on Sunday I was trying to work out why it was Hagi as opposed to Aribo because at least Hagi was showing a bit of desire, wanting to get on the ball.
“I think for the potential this guy has got and the belief that Gerrard has in him and the reason why he was signed, I think there’s so much more that he could be giving.”
Aribo attacking output needs to improve
It was certainly an ineffectual performance from Aribo on Sunday but that is a criticism that could be levelled at a number of players against Motherwell.
However, according to stats by Wyscout, Aribo was offering a downturn on his output at Fir Park, highlighted in the fact his Premiership season average of 6.06 dribbles per 90 with a 60% completion was down to five and 40% on Sunday.
He did, though, touch the ball eight times in the opposing penalty area which is his highest total of the season and he also made five progressive runs which is an increase on his 2.83 average.
It is in this area where Aribo needs to start delivering.
He has not scored since a double in the 8-0 thrashing of Hamilton at Ibrox on November 8 and those goals make up half of his total this season.
Add this to a mere two assists in the Premiership and the concerns start mounting that Aribo is not producing at the level he should be.
As a midfielder who possesses such skill and likes to operate in the attacking areas, he is not offering an acceptable return and needs to start taking the game by the scruff of the neck a bit more.
Aribo has all the attributes but it is time he starts delivering out on the pitch.
In other Rangers news, fans delight in Kris Boyd’s Celtic jibe.