Being compared with Premier League legends ennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie is no joke, especially for an attacking player. In the recently concluded match against Brighton, Chelsea’s player Cole Palmer was able to earn a number of praise after his historic, match-defining performance for Chelsea’s 4-2 victory.In the first half of the match, the young 22-year-old English forward managed to goal all four scores of Chelsea, with this he became the first ever player to achieve such feat in the history of Premier League. Wan to know more about this story? Follow Bongdalu now!

Palmer’s performances were both dominating and at the same time elegant and poised. This prompted former Arsenal Theo Walcott to compare his style to the expertise of Bergkamp and Van Persie.  "He has got a bit of finesse, Bergkamp, Van Persie about him, and they weren’t bad at all," Walcott commented after witnessing Palmer’s exhilarating performance. This comparison placed Palmer in the rarefied air of Premier League royalty. This is undoubtedly a remarkable accomplishment for someone like Palmer who is still in his early stages of his career.

The Historical Remarks of Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie

Premier League Hall of Famer and Arsenal Icon Dennis Bergkamp is known for his technical ability, creativity, and intelligence as a player. For over 11 seasons with Arsenal, Bergkamp was able to score a total of 87 goals, 94 assists, and more throughout the duration of 315 Premier League appearances, where he won 3 top flight titles. He was able to have a big impact on Arsenal’s style of play and his ability in producing genius moments truly made him one of the most admired players in the history of football.

Another Dutchman who had a similar iconic stint as Arsenal, is Robin van Persie. His most notable Premier League success was when he was with Manchester United. From there he was able to help the team win the 2012-2013 title. In addition to this, Persie was also well loved because of his clinical finishing, deadly left foot, and smart movements which made him one of the most feared strikers of his generation.

Being able to be compared to these great players suggests how Palmer has a big potential of being a complete forward. He combines elegance with lethal goal-scoring abilities. For Walcott, saying these comments about comparing Palmer to these legends suggests his ability to be able to impact the game as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League.

Palmer’s Historic Four-Goal Performance

Cole Palmer's four goal performance against Brighton was not only impressive but also a record breaking move. Being able to score a total of four goals in the first half makes Palmer the first player in Premier League history to ever do so. His finishing was so clinical that Brighton’s defense was not able to cope up with his swift movements, intelligence and accuracy in the field.

Palmer created another record as he became Chelsea’s fastest hat-trick scorer in Premier League history. His goals came in a rapid sequence wherein he achieved three out of four of his goals in the span of nine minutes and 48 seconds only. Throughout history, only Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe beats Palmer’s scores. Defoe  scored four goals in 17 minutes against Wigan in the year 2009.

From this performance, Palmer joins the elite groups of players who have scored at least four goals in multiple Premier League matches. The list includes big names such as Frank Lampard, Sergio Aguero, and Robbie Fowler. At the young age of 22 years, Palmer undoubtedly carved his name in the record books of the Premier League already.

Praises from Peers

After the match concluded, Palmer received praises of all kinds from different people. Unsurprisingly, Walcott isn’t the only one who was impressed with his performance. Micah Richards, a former defender from Manchester City also lauded Palmer’s movements and football intelligence on  BBC’s Match of the Day. "In terms of brains of footballers, he is so ahead of the game. An absolute joy to watch. He has everything," Richards said, referring to Palmer’s performance in the match.

Similarly, legendary England striker and match of the Day host Gary Lineker also shared his sentiments. Saying, "every time I see him, he takes my breath away. An extraordinary footballer." Lineker also suggested that Palmer could be one of the best and most talented players among England’s current crop.

Palmer did not only excel for his finishing but also because of his movements off the ball. He also exemplified a great awareness for space, and his ability to read the game also contributed to his standout display. Although Brighton tightly marked the player, he still managed to find gaps and exploit their high defensive line. Palmer is proving the people around that he really has what it takes to be a star player, and this level of football expertise is what sets the great players apart from the rest.

Palmer’s Response to the Spotlight

Despite all the praises Palmer received, he has been remaining humble and grounded. As he spoke after the match, he highlighted all the missed chances. Acknowledging that he might have done better if he scored even more.  "When I missed the first chance I was upset, but the way they played and how high the line was, we knew we would get more chances. I should have had five or six," Palmer stated in an interview.