Arsene Wenger compares Yaya Sanogo to Emmanuel Adebayor.
SEE ALSO: Best young football players in the world!
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has likened young striker Yaya Sanogo to former Gunners man Emmanuel Adebayor following his four goals in a 5-1 demolition of Benfica in the Emirates Cup, report the Daily Mail, comments that we can only assume were meant as a compliment, despite Adebayor’s soured relationship with the club.
Former AJ Auxerre striker Sanogo, who has received some criticism during his time at Arsenal despite his relatively tender years, came of age in front of a buoyant Emirates Stadium crowd, bagging a blistering first half hat-trick as Benfica struggled to deal with the pace and power offered by Sanogo and striker partner Joel Campbell, who also bagged himself a goal.
Wenger admitted to being surprised by Sanogo’s performance, after he was given an opportunity with Olivier Giroud unavailable for selection:
“That’s football, it always surprises you.”
The Frenchman was, however, glowing in his praise for Sanogo, suggesting that the 21 year-old can become a real asset for Arsenal now that he is fully over the injuries that plagued his time at Auxerre:
“Sanogo was injured for basically two years before he came to us. If you look at his goal scoring record before he got injured, it is quite frightening.”
“You could see when he scored the first goal today, suddenly they can raining. I especially liked the third goal he scored, it was really the goal of a striker of quality.”
“He has a big future here, or course, he is 21. He has something of Adebayor. He is strong, a strong body, similar strengths (to Adebayor), but as well technical skill.”
With Wenger having opted against to sign a new senior striker to compete with Giroud, both Campbell and Sanogo look likely to be competing against each other for playing time when the position is vacated by the French international.
COMMENTS