JOE ARIBO picked up in Southampton where he had left off in Glasgow. Now he finds himself at a career crossroads once again.
His last goal for Rangers had proven to be a false dawn as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's side suffered Europa League defeat in Seville. The first he scored for Southampton could be classed in the same way.
It was an effort that was Aribo all over. After picking the ball up within his own half, a direct run in that familiar, languid style took him to the edge of the Villarreal area.
He nipped inside the first defender and evaded the challenge of a second to take him away from the third. The fourth was beaten twice for good measure and the fifth was as despairing as the goalkeeper as Aribo showed the class and composure that were the hallmarks of his game during his three seasons at Ibrox.
Southampton's Joe Aribo did this today 🤯 (via @SouthamptonFC) pic.twitter.com/bQzrrIhfUi
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) July 30, 2022
Aribo was off and running. A four-year contract, after a deal that could be worth up to £10million was agreed, had been signed weeks earlier. It should have been the beginning of a bright new era for all concerned.
"When Aribo initially signed, I think there was a lot of excitement," Rob Maddox of online and social media outlets 'TheSaintsView' and 'SouthamptonPage' said as he reflected on Aribo's switch from Ibrox to St Mary's. "All the players we signed before him in that window were 18, 19, 20 and Aribo came in at 26-years-old.
"We all saw him scoring in the Europa League final and watched him play well there so people were excited. He was a name that had been linked when he was at Charlton and in windows before then so we weren’t surprised to see us go back in for him. It was a signing that excited the fanbase.
"We had been missing, under Ralph Hasenhüttl at the time, a creative number 10 who was left footed. Aribo fitted that mould perfectly, in my opinion, and people were excited. His goal in pre-season when he ran from the halfway line and scored was excellent so people got behind the signing early on."
The time had been right for Aribo to leave Ibrox. There was an understanding amongst a support that had been dazzled by those dancing feet and cherished his contribution to title 55, the Scottish Cup win and that night against Eintracht Frankfurt that still hurts them to this day.
The plan had been for Aribo to operate behind the front line and start from the right to allow him to be able to cut onto his left. When Hasenhüttl changed approach in an attempt to change his fortunes, Aribo found himself out of sorts.
A first competitive goal a fortnight into the campaign had sparked a comeback against Leeds United but the opener in a defeat to Everton proved to be a sign of things to come for the Saints. Hasenhüttl was sacked in the aftermath of a heavy loss to Newcastle United in November and being beaten by ten-man Wolves proved to be the end for Nathan Jones after just 14 matches in charge.
"Aribo was signed under Ralph at a time when I think the club expected to, not necessarily totally avoid the relegation battle, but at least didn't expect to be so much ingrained in the relegation battle at this point in the season," Daily Echo and Saintsplus writer Benjy Nurick said. "So I think they were expecting to be a better team than they have been, I think they were expecting to probably be more in control of games than they have been.
"And what's actually ended up happening is that they've been unbelievably awful this season and that has led to three different managers. And I think that at this point in the season under the third manager, they're going for ultimate reliability rather than brilliance."
Aribo played just eleven minutes of that Wolves horror-show as Ruben Selles was placed in charge at the end of a contentious and curtailed Jones reign. He has not kicked a ball in the Premier League since, with his only outing coming in the FA Cup giant-killing at the hands of Grimsby Town at the start of March.
He does not have an assist to his name this term and has played less than half of Southampton's Premier League minutes. With just ten matches remaining, Aribo faces a difficult end to a campaign that promised much but has delivered little.
"Aribo, as I'm sure you'll know from his time in Scotland, is a brilliant player in his moment, but he can disappear, can sometimes lack the sort of hard graft that you need in the relegation battle," Nurick said.
"And I think that, whether or not I agree with that or whether or not you agree with that, I think that's sort of what the managers' perspective is and he is looking for players that he knows will do the defensive side of the game, players that he knows won't let him down.
"He's got to reduce the mistakes and I think that's why a more mercurial player like Aribo has had fewer and fewer opportunities."
Aribo has gone from being one of the first names on the team sheet at Rangers to being overlooked for a place on the bench at Southampton. He had made the move with high hopes and believed he could become one of the leaders in the side as the quiet man of the Ibrox squad sought to find his voice and feet in the Premier League.
He left a club that had to win every week and has found himself at one that has been victorious in just six of 28 league matches. All the excitement and predictions from last summer now seem such a long time ago for all parties.
"I think it is more frustration from both sides," Maddox said of how the season has unfolded. "He must be frustrated because he is not playing in the positions where he was so good for Rangers. For Saints fans, we needed him to be that creative player.
"At times earlier on in the season, and against Leeds and Everton, he was great but he hasn’t been able to find that form again.
"Obviously we don’t know what goes on behind the scenes but I am sure his confidence would have been hit coming into a relegation fighting side.
"It was a big move to get to the Premier League and I am sure he had a lot of suitors. Why did he chose Southampton? Probably promises by the board that can’t be fulfilled because of the league position."
The future is now uncertain for Southampton and for Aribo. Time will tell what influence he can have in the coming weeks as the Saints enter a run, which begins with a trip to West Ham this weekend, that will define their status and shape next season.
In an interview in his homeland during the international break, he put his recent struggles down to 'processes' and 'growing pains'. He was unperturbed by his situation and expressed his belief that his faith would set him on the right track once again.
Joe Aribo with the sweetest megnuts of the year 🍬 Remember kids, stay clever and keep 'em together 🥜 pic.twitter.com/HAvgxTabPo
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) January 8, 2021
Aribo seemed custom made for the Premier League but his nonchalant style has been questioned in a division where every weakness is exposed. Moments of individual brilliance permeated his time with Rangers but they have been few and far between this term and the limited game time haven't allowed the Nigerian to find any rhythm.
"If we go down, I think Aribo would be a great asset," Maddox said. "I don’t expect him to stay if we do, but I would like him to.
"I think he would be a great addition to the Championship and if you look at some of the players that might leave, like Sulemana, Oršić, players who play in a similar position, if they leave and he stays he is guaranteed game time. It is as simple as that.
"But is the Championship where he wants to play after playing European football a couple of years ago and then Premier League football? It must be a difficult one for him.
"If we go down, I would love to see him stay. A season in the Championship would do a lot of our players good. But he is in his prime years now coming up to 27, 28 so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him move on if we do go down."
It would be a remarkable fall from grace for Aribo to go from a European final to England's second tier in the space of 12 months. If that scenario unfolds, he will not be the only one who will decide where the game takes him next.
Selles will remain in the dugout until the end of the season. If he is still there come the start of next term, then there is every chance that Aribo won't be, even if the support haven't yet given up on the man they had such high hopes for.
"I think in a different situation, with a fresh start, when things are a little bit less desperate, he can play for Southampton," Nurick, named Sports Journalist of the Year at the Regional Press Awards earlier this month, said.
"Whether that is in the Championship, where you obviously expect to be one of the better teams, or whether that's a start of a new Premier League season, I think there's an opportunity for Joe to start afresh again.
"But it is tough to come back from not playing at all. Fans want to see him more, they feel that he sort of brings something the team has been lacking, but clearly now multiple coaches in a row have not agreed with that."
There will be many Rangers supporters who will watch on with interest at how Aribo fares in the coming weeks and what the future holds for him at Southampton. He will, after all, always have his own place in the history books at Ibrox.
So, Joe Aribo. 25 years old. Nigerian international 🇳🇬 19 G/A last season. Scored in a European Cup Final. A dynamic attacking player. Can play in all forward positions and in CM. Left-footed which we don't currently have. Sit back, relax and enjoy this compilation. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/4TkbgUTT40
— Rob (@SaintRob__) July 5, 2022
The fortunes of another link between the clubs is also up for debate right now as Ross Wilson's record and position is questioned once again. Wilson left his role as Director of Football Operations in October 2019 as he returned to Scottish football after several years away.
His standing amongst Rangers fans has arguably never been as low. When it comes to his legacy on the south coast, the balance of public opinion does not sit favourably for the Sporting Director.
"Ross Wilson left and went up to Rangers and there was frustration I think," Maddox said. "You look at the players he brought in, they were promising but they never fulfilled their potential on the south coast.
"I can understand any frustrations. I have a couple of friends who are Rangers fans. I have been watching some of the deals they have done and they don’t seem like the best deals in the world to be honest.
"Ross Wilson left and, in my opinion anyway, our transfer policy has improved. We have signed younger players. It might not work short term but longer term and financially it will be better for the football club.
"Even if we go down we will get £30million for the likes of Bella-Kotchap, Lavia, these sort of players. We have never had that resale value from players that were playing during Ross Wilson’s tenure.
"Wesley Hoedt was brought in for £15million and he went basically on a free, for a nominal fee. Sofiane Boufal, our record signing when Wilson was here, he left on a £4million deal to Angers two years ago.
"I can understand Rangers fans' frustrations because they want to catch up with Celtic obviously. He hasn’t really been missed since he has left."
