Emmanuel Frimpong say Leeds ace was the ‘best technically’ during time at Arsenal

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Emmanuel Frimpong has claimed Leeds United defender Luke Ayling was the ‘best technically’ during their time together at Arsenal.

Frimpong was speaking on Arsenal’s YouTube channel where he reflected on his time at the Gunners, with the quality of Ayling having been among the topics they discussed.

Ayling is a product of Arsenal’s academy having spent the entirety of his youth career in North London, though never actually made an appearance for their first team.

The Leeds defender played alongside Jack Wilshere, Kyle Bartley, Henri Lansbury and former Whites loanee Sanchez Watt during his time as a youngster at Arsenal.

Frimpong also played alongside Ayling in Arsenal’s youth teams and went onto make 16 senior appearances under Arsene Wenger.

Frimpong hails Ayling’s technical ability as the ‘best’

Amid all the quality players Frimpong played alongside at Arsenal, he has actually labelled Ayling’s technical ability as the ‘best’, but also claimed his lack of pace was an issue.

He said: “Coquelin was good and he came later on. At the start Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Jack Wilshere, Sanchez Watt, Luke Ayling. Luke was very good, but Luke was very slow right. Technically he was the best, for a defender he was very good.”

Ayling has gone onto forge an excellent career for himself with his time at Yeovil Town and Bristol City having led him to Leeds, where he has made 258 appearances.

During that time, Ayling played a key role in Leeds’ Championship winning campaign and three-year stint in the Premier League.

Frimpong’s comments still ring true to this day with Ayling’s quality in possession having stood him in good stead under Marcelo Bielsa.

However, Ayling has never been quick and with his physical attributes continuing to deteriorate, his time as a Leeds regular may well be coming to an end.