Speaking on the HLTCO podcast, Dan Cook has been full of praise for Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur.
The Scottish midfielder has now racked up 234 appearances for the Eagles since joining from Wigan Athletic back in 2014 for just £8 million and looks set to be featuring heavily in the Palace side once again this season with seven starts already.
Is Conor Gallagher Crystal Palace's signing of the summer?
Yes
No
Now, even under a new manager in Patrick Vieira, who is clearly looking to the future and younger players judging by the club’s summer transfer business, McArthur has started all but one league game alongside midfield partner Conor Gallagher.
Cook spoke very highly of McArthur and how it’s hard for people outside of Palace to see what he brings to the team.
“I feel as though every club has one or two of those in their squad – players the opposition don’t necessarily realise; I’m sure every opposition manager and tactical analyst will realise the impact that James McArthur has, but from a casual eye, it’s difficult to really pick out that driving force that he offers because it looks very, very simple.
“He is pretty much the epitome of someone that does the simple things well and has a real engine on him, but I think when you can get someone that is so consistent in that role, it does almost make them undroppable.”
TIF Thoughts on McArthur…
Despite McArthur, who is valued at £1.8 million (as per Transfermarkt), potentially entering into his twilight years of being a Premier League starter, he’s performing admirably well and is clearly trusted by his teammates, having had the joint-most touches of the ball in the middle of the pitch (FBRef), highlighting how key he is to linking up the defence and attack.
It’s not just the work on the ball that he’s doing well, at 33 years old, McArthur is leading the Crystal Palace squad in the number of pressures (FBRef) this campaign, showing he’s still very capable of getting about the pitch – and alongside a much younger midfielder such as Gallagher, who ranks just behind McArthur for pressures on the opposition, Vieira may have found an ideal midfield duo.
In other news: ‘I genuinely have worries’ – Dan Cook drops concerning CPFC claim despite ‘positive news’