PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Mario Lemina - ‘The Gabon star wasted at Southampton’

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Tuesday Feb 13, 2018. 16:00

Former Manchester United striker Garth Crooks feels that Lemina is being “wasted” at Southampton.

The retired player stated that Lemina, who is a Gabon international, should instead be playing for English Premier League giants Arsenal.

The 24-year-old central midfielder has impressed at Southampton since arriving from Italian giants Juventus at the beginning of the current campaign.


“This lad is playing for the wrong team. Seriously. Mario Lemina is an Arsenal player if ever I have seen one,” Crooks said on HITC.

“For far too long in my opinion, Arsene Wenger has faffed around with the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin.

“Wenger should have invested in Lemina during the summer and got in there well before Southampton did,” the former Tottenham Hotspur striker added.

“Lemina is wasted at St Mary’s. Sorry, Southampton fans, but you just do not have the class of player to bring the best out of this lad. His performance against West Brom was immense.

“Admittedly, we have not seen enough performances like this – but you would if you put him in a proper outfit.”

Lemina has made 19 appearances in the English Premier League for Southampton this season - netting once in the process.