Arsenal legend praised by De Zerbi after brother of former Tottenham goalie's cock-up

By Alessandro at Stade Velodrome

Olympique Marseille 6-2 Le Havre

Goals: Kechta (24' LH) Greenwood (35' penalty), 67', 72', 76', Robinio Vaz 88', Murillo 90+3 (Olympique Marseille), Touré 90+2 (LH)

Olympique Marseille replied to an early Le Havre sucker punch with six throws of their own as Premier League persona non grata Mason Greenwood became the first club player since Jean-Pierre Papin back in 1991 to net a quadruple.

Despite late cosmetic goals by Robinio Vaz and Michael Murillo, it would not be wrong to state that Greenwood, who left Manchester United under a cloud, knocked out the minnows on his own.

One-time Londoners Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang [Arsenal], Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg [Tottenham Hotspur], Nayef Aguerd and Emerson Palmieri [West Ham]  played their parts as Roberto De Zerbi pounced on other results going his way, most notably PSG drawing and Lyon losing, to march to the top of the table in solitary position.

But it was perhaps the brother of a London legend who played the biggest part in Le Havre's downfall.

At 1-0 up for the visitors Gautier Lloris, the younger sibling of Tottenham great Hugo, handled the ball in the area to stop Aubameyang and gift Marseille a route back into the game.

Up until that point, Les Marseillais were crisp on the ball but struggled to break through the deep-sitting visitors. And Lloris' blunder was just what the cadeau they needed to get things started.

And ten minutes before the interval, Greenwood cancelled out Kechta's low drive from 11 minutes previously when he slotted home from the spot to take a draw into half-time.

The change of sides then yielded a hat-trick for the 24-year old as goals kept happening at warp speed.

Looking back, Marseille may have run riot anyway hut Lloris' sending-off was clearly the determining factor of the trashing.

Playing a man shy for around 70 minutes including additional-time would have been a mental barrier for any relegation-threatened side. Not least if you're up against the French team of the moment.

Despite a failure to add to his three Ligue 1 goals this campaign, De Zerbi wasted no time in lavishing praise on his time-defying superstar Aubameyang who is anything but flagging despite turning 37 next year.

Asked if he expected the ex-Gunner to still be able to pull the strings after his second Marseille homecoming, he told Capital Football: "Yes, I expected it because Aubameyang is a champion!

"He's different... and maybe he's even better than what I thought before I managed him.

"Maybe one can think that he's just a finisher, a 'bomber' and goalscorer.

"But instead he's the complete player.

"He's intelligent, works for the team, provides assists, understands the game and he's physically very quick and strong.

"He's a champion."