Manchester Evening News journalist Simon Bajkowski, 90min journalist Jamie Spencer and former Manchester City striker Paul Dickov were some of the people who showered Nathan Ake in praise after his Man-of-the-Match performance in Friday’s FA Cup win over Arsenal, but Shaun Goater had plenty to say too.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League and Buyako Saka has had a hand in more goals than any of his teammates (7 goals, 7 assists), but the 21-year-old was kept quiet because of Ake who also got on the scoresheet in the second half.
Goater gushed over him on City’s Matchday Live show, saying: “He was brilliant how he played and in keeping Saka quiet. It was a real man of the match performance. He was absolutely brilliant again on Friday and it was capped with that great finish.”
Saka has averaged 2.1 shots, 2.3 created chances, 1.2 successful dribbles and 1.2 accurate crosses per Premier League game this season, but he failed to register a shot on target, create a chance, make a dribble or whip in a cross that found a teammate against City.
Ake has made 22 appearances across the board in 2022/23 and has been a regular in multiple positions. The 27-year-old has impressed at left-back to keep Joao Cancelo out of the side. And he’s done well in a central role at the expense of Aymeric Laporte.
Ake should keep his spot in the starting eleven when City lock horns with Tottenham Hotspur next month.
In other news, Paul Dickov hails ‘magnificent’ Nathan Ake after FA Cup win
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