Europa League: Aribo tipped as ‘false nine’ against Leipzig

Following Joe Aribo’s immense contribution to the Rangers’ good run to the semi-final stage of the Europa League, a Sky Sports analyst Kris Commons believes the Nigerian must play a crucial role in their Thursday’s first leg tie against Leipzig in Germany.

Rangers head into this game without a recognised striker after Kemar Roofe got injured.

Commons suggested that Van Bronckhorst should follow Liverpool or Manchester City’s approach of playing with a false-nine model and that he should use the trio of Aribo, Fashion Sakala and Ryan Kent to cause problems.

“That’s the sort of system I think might suit Rangers best in Leipzig — and I believe Joe Aribo is the man best suited to playing the false-nine role,” Commons wrote for The Scottish Daily Mail. “In terms of his touch and his technical ability, he’s a much better player than Sakala. I think a front three of Aribo centrally, with Sakala and Ryan Kent out wide, could cause Leipzig problems.

“Aribo and Kent were rested for Saturday’s victory over Motherwell in the Premiership, so they should be fresh and raring to go come Thursday night.

“It’s a funny one with Aribo (right). In the first half of the season, he was one of the best players in the country and looked a decent bet for Player of the Year along with some of the Celtic contingent.

“But he definitely went off the boil when he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria a couple of months ago.

“In saying that, I think he’s definitely been finding some form again in recent games. His performances have picked up and he’s looking more dangerous.”

Meanwhile, Rangers’ starlet Alex Lowry says Aribo and Aaron Ramsey have been perfect role models for him in his development.

He said: “It’s been a whirlwind season. I was with the ‘B’ team initially but since January I have predominantly been with the first team.

“Training with guys like Aaron Ramsey and Joe Aribo each day, I am learning and picking up so many small things off them.

“But it’s the small details that can make me a lot better.”

TheNation/Nnenna.O