Speaking recently on The Molineux View podcast, Tim Spiers called for Pedro Neto to start Wolverhampton Wanderers’ next fixture.
Since arriving at Wolves from Lazio in what was a £16.11 million deal back in the summer of 2019, Neto has gone on to feature 54 times for the club, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists along the way.
So far this season, the £19.8 million-rated 20-year-old has highly impressed for Wolves, scoring two goals and providing two assists over his nine Premier League appearances, averaging a WhoScored match rating of 7.16 – ranking him as the club’s second-best performer in the top flight.
The winger impressed once again in the club’s recent 1-1 draw with Southampton, coming off the bench to score Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s equaliser in the game.
Following this performance, Spiers, speaking on The Molineux View podcast, heaped praise on the Portugal international, stating his belief that the 20-year-old has shown enough to deserve a start against Arsenal this weekend.
He said: “I think it’s difficult as to who Nuno leaves out, really. [I was] really surprised to see Neto left out [against Southampton], I mean, he’s been by far, Wolves’ most creative player this season – in terms of chances created, he’s way ahead of the others; I think he’s created 15 in total before [the Southampton game].
“He’s really blossomed as a player, he looks tactically very intelligent with the different positions he’s been asked to take up on the field, he’s good defensively and his end product is good in terms of goals and assists as well.
“So, I think Neto has to start and it’s probably between [Adama] Traore and [Daniel] Podence – neither of whom have really set the world alight this season, in terms of consistency and performances. So, it’s probably a bit of a 50-50 between Traore and Podence as to who gets the nod, but Neto has to start, for me.”
Do you think Neto should start against Arsenal?
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TIF Thoughts on Tim Spiers’ comments regarding Pedro Neto…
From Spiers’ comments, it is clear that the journalist believes Neto should be starting the Arsenal fixture ahead of the likes of Traore and Podence, and, after looking at Wolves’ statistics so far this season, it is hard to argue with him.
Comparing all three of Neto, Traore and Podence, Neto has averaged more shots per game than Traore, and the same amount as Podence, with 1.8, has made an average of 1.7 key passes per game, more than both Traore and Podence, has scored more goals than both players and has averaged a higher WhoScored match rating.
As such, we are in complete agreement with Spiers that Espirito Santo should be giving Neto the nod for the Arsenal clash.