Making predictions in the football business can be risky, to say the least. But for René van der Gijp, a recent Arsenal claim is now looking like a smart one.
[PSV Inside cover comments](https://www.psvinside.nl/videos/van-der-gijp-voorziet-miljoenentransfer-psv-niemand-geloofde-me-toen-ik-zei-dat-hij-als-enige-bij-arsenal-eindigt) from him today. And he’s fully backing his claim about PSV’s rising star Ismael Saibari.
He’s currently shining for the Dutch side, with eight goals and one assist in 14 appearances in all competitions to date. That includes three goals in two games in the Champions League.
He looks set for a big season once again after shining last season. He finished the campaign with 15 goals and 14 assists in 44 games in all competitions. And he’s on course to post similar numbers again.
If he does, it won’t be long before a big move is on the cards. Van der Gijp was ahead of the rest on that front.
He was impressed by Saibari last season and, all the way back in December, explained that he was convinced Saibari would end up at Arsenal at some point.
Those comments were somewhat disregarded at the time, but not anymore. And he’s pretty happy that others are catching up with him.
“When I said a year and a half ago: ‘That’s the only PSV player to end up at Arsenal,’ everyone said: Blah, blah… No, at Fortuna Sittard,” he said.
“At the time, it wasn’t about how he played at all. It was more about his power, which he already had back then.
“With the power he has, he can succeed in England. There are all those kinds of guys in midfield there. He can defend himself against that, something Joey Veerman or Jerdy Schouten can’t.”
“He looks like he’s overweight, but he has the potential to progress to England,” added Johan Derksen.