IT’S GUNNER BE SLOW FOR DENIS
PROBABLE TEAMS
“It was Tottenham away [Boxing Day 2017, a 5-2 defeat],” he said. “I lost the ball on the edge of our box, and Spurs countered and scored. From that point, it was every time I touched the ball.”
Redmond, 24, is back in north London today but will face Arsenal as a revitalised player, having been one of the Saints’ star men since boss Ralph Hasenhuttl’s appointment.
His dip in form last season was largely down to a hangover from the European Under-21 Championships in June 2017 with England.
Desperate to play, and it was his last tournament at that level, Redmond suffered a hamstring injury in the quarter-finals, but made it back for the semis, only to aggravate the problem.
To compound matters, Redmond then saw his decisive spot-kick saved as England crashed out on penalties to Germany.
The effects, physically and mentally, lingered into the domestic season, culminating in that day to forget at Spurs.
Before that, Pep Guardiola, in a famous post-match exchange with Redmond at the Etihad, challenged the Saints star about not being the same player the Manchester City boss had enjoyed watching the previous season.
Forward Redmond, who scored just once last term, recalled: “There’s nothing worse than not being able to get past a DENIS SUAREZ will be a success at Arsenal – but the Barcelona loan star will NOT be an instant hit. That’s the verdict of Adama Traore, his former team-mate at the Nou Camp, who says that it will be a culture shock in more ways than one at the Emirates. Traore came through the ranks at Barcelona with Suarez, 25, who has joined the Gunners on loan until the end of the campaign.
But Traore says that the midfieldercum-winger will have to work hard to adjust to football in north London – because he’s used to his brilliant Barca team-mates making it so easy for him.
Traore said: “I think it will be a good move for Denis – but it will be a difficult start here.
“At Barcelona, it’s hard, but you are playing with the likes of Messi. They make life very easy.
“At Arsenal they are very good players but every year the Premier League is different, it is getting better and better – though there’s no doubt he’s a very good player.”
There is some discussion over where Gunners boss Unai Emery sees Suarez (left) fitting into his line-up.
Emery has one obvious option, to make a like-for-like swap now that Aaron Ramsey’s exit to Juventus has been confirmed.
And Traore says he believes that will end up being Emery’s choice.
He said: “Denis is good in midfield with his passing, although he can play as a winger. When I played with him for Barcelona B, he played a little bit inside.