Southampton coach Russell Martin has revealed how Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo handled his tough days at St. Mary’s after the player scored his first goal for the club in over a year on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Aribo scored the first goal in their 5-0 win over Swansea on Boxing Day with a calm finish from the edge of the box just as England youth international of Nigerian descent, Sam Edoziee, was also on target plus a brace from Ryan Fraser while the last goal came from Che Adams.
The Super Eagles midfielder’s 17th-minute goal was his first in 450 days. The last time he scored was in their 2-1 loss to Everton in the EPL on October 1, 2022.
After the game, Russell reflected on the confidence he had in the Nigerian in the last five games he had started before the Swansea win.
“When Joe Aribo wasn’t playing, he didn’t show frustration with the players, he trained like a beast. He would come speak to me and get his frustration out,” Russell said.
Aribo’s struggles with the Saints began before their relegation to the Championship last season and that continued in the second division as he has only managed to start only six of the 18 games he played in the 24-week-old English second division.
“For me it’s all about being a good teammate, being there for my boys, because we all go towards it together. There’s no one man in a team, it’s everyone,” Aribo also said.
“It’s been a long time coming! Someone asked me earlier on Tuesday ‘what would I want for Christmas?’ and I said ‘to score’, so I’ve got my wish, thankful to God.”
Thanks to his resurgence, the midfielder is fast becoming a fan favourite at the St. Mary’s as they chanted his name during the emphatic win on Tuesday.
“It’s the first time I’ve heard it. It’s a very good song to be fair. For us they (the fans) are amazing. They are our twelfth man.
Third-placed Southampton will return home on Friday to face Plymouth.
