Republic of Ireland midfielder has been compared to none other than Andrea Pirlo

We're huge fans of Harry Arter here at SportsJOE, don't get us wrong.

But we feel that the 25-year-old Bournemouth midfielder still has some way to go to be discussed in the same breath as the world's elite players. Terry Butcher doesn't agree. The legendary English defender has heaped praise on Arter, who has one Republic of Ireland cap to his name, and claimed that he's actually better than Italian legend Andrea Pirlo in one area of his game. Butcher was commentating on the Cherries' home defeat to Newcastle for BBC 5 Live when he came out with the extraordinary comparison.

“Do you think Harry Arter looks like a more mobile Andrea Pirlo? He wants the ball all the time.”

While it may be a bit too soon to liken Arter to one of the greatest midfielders of all time, we're sure he'll take the compliment but certain listeners thought the gun may have been jumped, just a tad. https://twitter.com/DeadlyMonkfish/status/662994504266481664 https://twitter.com/s34ley/status/662994547673333760 https://twitter.com/vxndittelli/status/662994666497904640 https://twitter.com/patto1878/status/662994770197917696

@dreamteamfc butcher needs new specs .if Arter is like pirlo he wouldn't be at Bournemouth

— edwin farrugia (@edwinfarrugia) November 7, 2015