"He is so gifted" – Theo Walcott compares Chelsea star Cole Palmer to two Arsenal legends as he lavishes praise
Ex-Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has compared Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer to Gunners greats Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie following the Blues' latest win.
Earlier this Saturday (September 28), the Blues registered their third league win on the bounce after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2. Palmer became the first-ever player to net four first half goals in the Premier League after bagging his first in the 21st minute of the clash.
Speaking on BBC Match of the Day, Walcott lavished praise on the left-footed star and likened the ace to two Arsenal legends. He said (h/t BBC):
"He has got a bit of finesse, Bergkamp, Van Persie about him, and they weren't bad at all. He has grown into his own at Chelsea and he is the main man. 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."
Manchester City great Micah Richards also pitched in and commented:
"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."
During the clash against Brighton, Palmer completed 17 of 25 passes, created four chances and three big chances, and registered seven shots. The 22-year-old also won one of one tackle and three of five duels.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer reacts to Arsenal comparison by football pundit Theo Walcott
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer shared his honest thoughts on his fine display against Brighton earlier on Saturday. He also thanked Theo Walcott, saying (h/t BBC):
"I should have had five or six. I just try and play every game the way I can and hopefully produce performances like that. [Dennis Bergkamp] is a legend of the Premier League but I didn't really watch him. He is a top player but thank you Theo [for the comparison]."
Palmer has found the back of the opposition net 28 times and laid out 15 assists in just 39 Premier League appearances for Chelsea so far.z€
Dennis Bergkamp, on the other hand, helped Arsenal win three top-flight titles in 11 campaigns. The Dutchman scored 87 goals and recorded 96 assists in 315 league matches for Arsenal between 1995 and 2006.