Michael Stewart floored by ‘sensational’ Joe Aribo as BBC Sportscene relay Rangers footage
Michael Stewart was left blown away by Joe Aribo’s goal for Rangers in their 4-0 win over St Mirren on Sunday.
After Kemar Roofe’s hat-trick sealed the Scottish Premiership tie in Paisley, 25-year-old Aribo took centre stage and scored an absolute beauty from outside the penalty area to wrap up proceedings.
After being shown footage of Aribo’s goal on BBC Sportscene, Stewart had nothing but praise for the Nigeria midfielder.
Speaking on Sportscene on BBC Scotland on Sunday night [10 April, 07:34pm], Stewart said; “Sensational, isn’t it?
“When I was looking at it, I was thinking to myself, ‘could [Joe] Shaughnessy have got a little bit closer?’. But sometimes you’ve just got to take your hat off and say that was fantastic play from Aribo.
“Just take, shift and bang.
“It’s too harsh to try and suggest the defender should’ve done better.”
Back on form?
Aribo has struggled in recent months with the former Charlton midfielder not doing anywhere near as good as he did when Giovanni van Bronckhorst first took over.
Aribo was the Gers’ best player in van Bronckhorst’s early days in charge but since the winter break, the Nigerian’s performances have waned.
He’s been quiet in big games and before the trip to Paisley this weekend, he’d been directly involved in just three Scottish Premiership goals (one goal, two asissts) since his duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
Is Aribo worn out? Is that why he turned on the style on Sunday at St Mirren Park because he didn’t have to push himself at 3-0 up?
Either way, it was a delight to see that goal – it gets better every time you watch it.
Aribo did take advantage of some bad defending to get the ball into his feet, turn and shoot. However, the hard bit was controlling the ball in such a way it was caressed into the top corner.
What a goal.
In other Rangers news, Andy Walker raged over an “awful” moment he noticed in the win over St Mirren.