Rangers moved another step closer to the Scottish Premiership title on Sunday, beating Dundee United 4-1 at Ibrox.
Ianis Hagi fired the Gers in front as he deflected Joe Aribo’s strike into the net, before Ryan Kent’s diverted strike made it 2-0.
Aribo got himself on the scoresheet with a thunderous left-footed drive, and Alfred Morelos added a fourth as he blocked Benjamin Siegrist’s clearance into the net.
Marc McNulty pulled one back for the visitors, but with Celtic losing at Ross County later in the night, this was Rangers’ day.
Aribo will be particularly pleased with his day’s work, picking up a goal and an assist in a fine performance from the midfielder.
Signed from Charlton Athletic for just £300,000 in 2019, the 24-year-old is in great form at the moment having scored against Royal Antwerp on Thursday night.
Now, boss Steven Gerrard has told The Glasgow Times that he thinks Aribo is ‘back for real now’ having bounced back from injury and illness.
Gerrard praised Aribo’s bursting runs from midfield as well as his ability to score, having bagged such a fine goal against Dundee United,
“In terms of Joe, the real Aribo is back now,” said Gerrard. “At the beginning of the season he suffered the first injury of his career and as someone who has experienced that myself, it’s a big shock to the system. I think he took his time returning from that in terms of getting his power, strength and bursts of energy that he plays with back.”
“He had an illness on the back of that injury so it became a three month absence and that always takes time to get back up to speed. But now you see the real Aribo. Power, strength, bursts from midfield and skills – and now letting shots go because he’s got the quality. It was a fantastic strike and he’s back for real now,” he added.
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