daniel chigunwe
LONDON. — For an attacking player, being compared to legendary Premier League forwards Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie is not a bad thing at all.
Chelsea striker Cole Palmer was likened to both after his history-making performance in Saturday’s 4-2 win against Brighton at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old got all four goals, scoring them in the first half of the game — the first time that has ever been done in the Premier League.
Palmer also had one goal disallowed and hit the woodwork as Brighton could not cope with him.
“He has got a bit of finesse, Bergkamp, Van Persie about him, and they weren’t bad at all,” former England and Arsenal forward Theo Walcott said after the game.
Bergkamp is a Premier League Hall of Famer — an Arsenal great who scored 87 goals and added 94 assists in 315 league games for the Gunners, winning three top-flight titles in 11 seasons.
His fellow Dutchman Van Persie starred for Arsenal in an eight-year stint before winning the 2012-13 Premier League with Manchester United. Walcott explained he had been “speechless” while witnessing Palmer’s performance.
“He has grown into his own at Chelsea and he is the main man,” said Walcott. “You can’t leave him out of any team, and I am talking about England too.
“He is so gifted, he will have that awe around him so that players are afraid of him. If he continues like this, he going to be a legend of the Premier League.”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards told BBC Match of the Day: “When he scored 22 goals last season, we asked: Could he do it again? We don’t talk about his movement enough, the timing of his runs are brilliant. Everything he does is effortless in the way he does it.
“In terms of brains of footballers, he is so ahead of the game. An absolute joy to watch. He has everything. When you become the main man, you are marked by two people, but he still delivers.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker, Match of the Day’s presenter, added: “Every time I see him, he takes my breath away. An extraordinary footballer.
“Of all the talented players England have got, he might be the best of the lot.”
The Blues player himself though, had his eyes on more.
Palmer told BBC Radio 5 Live: “When I missed the first chance I was upset, but the way they played and how high the line was, we knew we would get more chances. I should have had five or six.
“I just try and play every game the way I can and hopefully produce performances like that.
“[Bergkamp] is a legend of the Premier League but I didn’t really watch him. He is a top player but thank you Theo [Walcott].” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter