Paul Merson says Destiny Udogie was ‘outstanding’ during Tottenham Hotspur’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal on Sunday.
Early on in the game, Destiny Udogie was already in the referee’s book, before he allowed Bukayo Saka to cut onto his favoured left foot and he then got the luck because his shot deflected off Cristian Romero into the back of the net.
It was all going wrong for Tottenham and their young defender pretty early during the game.
But that’s where Ange Postecoglou’s side showcased their true self, as they stepped it up a level, including their young fullback on the left, which left Paul Merson impressed, as he told Sky Sports.
In the lead-up to the game, the outspoken pundit was firing shots at Tottenham and how they were going to get ‘destroyed’ by Arsenal.
Well, the double-winner at Arsenal has been made to eat his words because it was a brilliant performance by Spurs and he acknowledged that.
Destiny Udogie impresses against Saka
“Destiny Udogie was outstanding,” said Merson.
“For him to get booked so early on in the game, then go up against Bukayo Saka – one of the best wingers in the world – is some going.
“But credit goes to Ange Postecoglou, he said to him: ‘I have faith in you, you’re a full-back it’s your job to defend one-v-ones. Stay on the pitch’.
“Normally, against a player like Saka, a manager would take him off as you wouldn’t want a red card. But fair play to the manager and Udogie did his job really well.”
A bright future for Destiny Udogie at Tottenham
Ryan Sessegnon was brought in as a highly-rated full-back in 2019, but the Englishman, despite his successes at Fulham, has struggled during his time at the club.
Injuries have played a massive part, but Spurs can only go off the here and now.
And that’s the fact that Udogie is playing at the top of his game, and if even Sessegnon returns from the treatment room, it’s a place on the bench for the attack-minded fullback.
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