Aribo admits Southampton first year frustration
It is exactly one year today since Southampton FC announced the signing of Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo. One year on, the 26-year old looks back at a frustrating first season with the Saints.
Aribo joined Southampton FC from Glasgow Rangers on July 9, 2022 ending his three year stay at Ibrox, to take up a new challenge with the Saints in England’s top-flight.
One year after, things have not gone according to plan. The Nigerian playmaker moved from the player who helped Rangers win a Scottish Premiership title in 10 years, lifted the Scottish Cup, and reach the 2021/202 season’s UEFA Europa League in which he scored in the final to a bit part role at St. Mary’s.
That season will end with Southampton suffering relegation to the second tier and as Aribo acknowledged in his conversation with Planet Football Africa Podcast, ‘ It was a ‘ frustrating ‘ first year.
Aribo said ” For me, very frustrating.
” It was tough because you want to do so well for yourself, you know. I had a new challenge and I wanted to hit the ground running.
” And obviously, I had all of these goals and what I wanted to do, also to help the team. But I didn’t feel I got the chance to do that and it was really frustrating. It was a season of learning.
“But also, I felt like I needed that season because it was God that put me in that situation and I have learnt that he doesn’t do it for no reason. There was a reason behind it. Right now I am questioning that reason but we just have to put our faith in God and trust. ”
When asked about his feeling after experiencing relegation for the first time, Aribo continued: ‘It’s really frustrating. You kind of don’t know what to do with yourself because for me, like you said, I have never experienced so I didn’t know how to take it.
“It was a bitter one to take, but another reason why it was so bitter for me is because I didn’t really get a chance, a proper chance, to help the team. Like, seeing it all unfold was really upsetting for me.” the London-born midfielder concluded.
Except a transfer happens, Joe Aribo is set to enter his second year with Southampton FC.
When he joined in 2022, the midfielder signed a four year deal and so is contracted to the Saints until 2026.
