Chelsea’s rising star Cole Palmer has expressed his delight after being compared to Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp following his stunning performance in Chelsea’s 4-2 Premier League win over Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Soccernet.football reports.
Palmer netted all four goals for Chelsea, delivering an unforgettable display that secured the three points for the Blues.
In a thrilling first half, Palmer’s all-around quality shone as he scored a penalty, a free-kick, and two more brilliant goals.
This historic performance made Palmer the first player in Premier League history to grab a hat-trick in the first half of a match. All the goals in the encounter were scored in the opening 45 minutes, making it an unforgettable spectacle for the fans.
Palmer’s display caught the attention of former Arsenal star Theo Walcott, who compared the young Chelsea forward to Dennis Bergkamp, a legendary figure in Premier League history.
When asked about the flattering comparison, Palmer humbly told MatchoftheDay: “I know he (Bergkamp) is a legend in the Premier League but I didn’t really watch him, I was too young. I have seen clips, he was a top player so thank you, Theo Walcott!”
Palmer’s performance could have been even more impressive as he had a goal disallowed, another effort cleared off the line and hit the post with a thunderous strike.
Palmer admitted he was aiming for more: “I should have had five or six! When I missed the first chance I was upset, but with the way they played and their high line, I felt we’d get more chances.
“The manager set up a good game plan, we knew how to attack them with first-time passes in behind.
“Brighton are a good team, pass the ball well. They play similar to us. Three points is what we needed and that is what we got.
“I try and play every game the best I can.”
The 4-2 victory saw Chelsea move up to third in the Premier League, just one point behind Manchester City and Arsenal after six games.