Ian Maatsen

[andyh]

The kid has an incredible engine. Up and down the pitch for the whole game, many times at full pace.
Like all of them, he is improving game by game.

[PeterWithe]

Incredible stamina to get up and down so many times at top pace. He's always been good going forward but very impressed with him defensively yesterday, and Rogers more than did his part as well.

[N'ZMAV]

I think the baton is being handed over from Digne to Maatsen now - I imagine both will get starts and gametime this season, but Maatsen is maturing.

[Brend'Watkins]

He’s really looking the part now. I don’t agree that he’s ahead of Digne quite yet, I see it more as a case of we have two equally capable players for the one position which we can rotate.

[Mister E]

Bearing in mind he was up against Saka (the cheat that he is) I thought he was excellent and contributed hugely both defensively and offensively. I wonder if we’re starting to see the gradual replacement of Luca with Ian for the biggest games. What’s great is that they’re both really good players and we have that flexibility.

Bang on; I said after Wednesday that Maatsen made a huge difference to our attacking capability on the night, and I think yesterday we saw that again but also saw his defensive improvements.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

He’s really looking the part now. I don’t agree that he’s ahead of Digne quite yet, I see it more as a case of we have two equally capable players for the one position which we can rotate.

I agree. I think if you're playing Rogers, Tielemans, McGinn behind Watkins then I would much rather Maatsen be playing to give the width.

[Garyth]

He’s really looking the part now. I don’t agree that he’s ahead of Digne quite yet, I see it more as a case of we have two equally capable players for the one position which we can rotate.

I agree. I think if you're playing Rogers, Tielemans, McGinn behind Watkins then I would much rather Maatsen be playing to give the width.

It's quite nice how different players and combinations can be selected depending on freshness and opposition.

Maatsen + Sancho looked a good combo late in the 2nd half.

[Drummond]

I thought he had a good game today as well.  He has top.end speed and got forward well throughout the game.

Great close control as well, and he's getting better defensively. With hindsight after a year of settling in him and Onana is excellent business last summer and both are still a few years away from their prime.

See also, potentially, Eliott?