René van der Gijp says the crowd is finally catching up with him. The analyst first tipped PSV’s Ismael Saibari for Arsenal last December.
Back then, few listened. Now, with Saibari flying again, the claim looks a whole lot smarter.
Saibari’s numbers do most of the talking. He has eight goals and one assist in 14 appearances this season, including three goals in two Champions League games. That follows a standout campaign of 15 goals and 14 assists in 44 matches last term. It is steady, repeatable output and it is turning heads.
Van der Gijp’s stance is simple. He saw the power profile early. He believes that makes Saibari a fit for England and, in particular, for Arsenal’s midfield demands. The noise around the PSV playmaker has now grown, but the pundit insists he was there first.
Ismael Saibari to Arsenal: where the prediction stands
“That’s the only PSV player to end up at Arsenal,” Van der Gijp said of Saibari last year. It sounded bold at the time. Today, it reads like a clear projection backed by evidence. Saibari’s form has held. The end product is there. The physical base is obvious. Put those pieces together and a top-move conversation is natural.
The tone from the analyst is not about highlights. It is about attributes. He argues that Saibari’s power lets him handle English midfield duels. That, he says, is the differentiator, more than tricks, it is about the engine and the frame to repeat actions week after week.
Rene van der Gijp Arsenal claim explained
Van der Gijp remembers the reaction: “Blah, blah… No, at Fortuna Sittard.” He stuck to his view anyway.
In his eyes, Saibari was built for a higher ceiling. He stresses that the case was never just how the player looked one weekend. It was the strength profile, the ability to ride contact, and the capacity to repeat efforts in midfield traffic.
He drew a contrast, noting that others name-checking Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten, do not have the same tools for that environment. It is a tough-love comparison, but it underlines the point: Saibari’s power is the edge.
Three goals in two Champions League games sharpen the headlines. Saibari is not only producing in the league; he is landing punches on bigger stages. That matters in any recruitment room. Output under the lights is proof of concept, and it supports Van der Gijp’s early call.
