West Ham United legend Tony Gale has singled out defender Tosin Adarabioyo for his role in the goal scored by Joe Aribo during Chelsea’s 5-1 Premier League win over Southampton.
The Blues triumphed in dominant fashion, securing a place in the league’s top two.
However, a key moment in the match drew criticism from Gale, who highlighted a defensive error that led to Aribo’s goal.
In his analysis, Gale pointed out that Adarabioyo should have done more to close down the space and prevent Aribo from getting the opportunity to score.
That’s the mistake there. Like you said, Enzo Fernandez is looking.
He’s a bit lucky, the ball is centred, and Aribo goes past his marker Tosin.
Tosin is on the back foot as well, Gale said during his appearance on the Premier League World Feed.
He went on to emphasize that a challenge could have been made to thwart the chance.
There’s the challenge that should have been made, there’s a good ball and an easy finish for Aribo, Gale added, reflecting on what he saw as a missed opportunity for the defender to assert himself in the situation.
The goal, which came during a match dominated by Chelsea, highlighted a defensive lapse that ultimately did little to halt the Blues’ march to victory.
For Adarabioyo, the criticism is a reminder of the fine margins that can determine success or failure in high-level football, especially in the pressure of Premier League competition.
Chelsea’s commanding win, which moved them to second place in the league, saw multiple standout performances, but Aribo’s goal and the defensive error surrounding it provided the most talking points in the aftermath.
