Southampton midfielder Joe Aribo has claimed two of his teammates are ‘so good’ they leave him ‘daydreaming’.
Southampton clinched promotion back to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the Championship Play-Off final.
Adam Armstrong scored the winning goal inside 24 minutes but it was a team effort throughout as Russell Martin’s men played some sumptuous football.
Joe Aribo – who played 90 minutes in the final – has already laid down a marker for his ambitions in the top flight, claiming he had a “difficult” campaign but knows he’s capable of flourishing at England’s top table.
For the Nigerian, it’s his second season in the Premier League as he made 21 appearances in the Saints relegation campaign, and he’s excited about the prospect of playing alongside two of his teammates.
Joe Aribo waxes lyrical about Flynn Downes and Will Smallbone
Aribo played every single minute of their play-off campaign, starting next to Flynn Downes and Will Smallbone.
It’s a trio that played a pivotal role in securing the South Coasters promotion, with academy hero Smallbone scoring in the semi-final against West Brom and assisting Armstrong at Wembley.
Aribo was left starstruck by his two midfield compatriots, claiming they’re “so good” they leave him “daydreaming” on the pitch.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, the former Rangers man said: “I mean, sometimes I’m on the pitch and I’m just watching them and I just get lost.
“I’m like daydreaming just watching them because they’re honestly so good.
“There is so much energy in and out of possession from all of us. It’s amazing to play with them.”
The statistics that prove Joe Aribo can step up in the Premier League
Southampton’s midfield trio of Downes, Smallbone and Aribo was so successful because it had a blend of tenacity, creativity and skill.
Downes often sat in front of the defence while his teammates were given license to maraud forward, a part of the game that Aribo excels at.
When comparing him against other midfielders in the Championship, the powerful midfielder is levels ahead of his peers, especially for his explosive ball-carrying, passing range and ability to receive the ball in tight spaces.
As highlighted by FBref, Aribo ranks in the top 9% for progressive passes per 90 (7.40), the top 8% for touches (Att Pen) and the top 4% for progressive carries and progressive passes received.
In a progressive and relentless system, Southampton saw the best of the fleet-footed Nigerian in glimpses but his consistency will need to improve in the top flight.
He often tended to dip in and out of games, though the underlying metrics and the eye test suggest he could be a lethal weapon ready to be unleashed in the Premier League.