Dick Campbell heaped praise on Dipo Akinyemi – after the Ayr striker's Saturday show against the Lichties.
Akinyemi gave centre-half Thomas O'Brien a torrid afternoon which ended with the Lichties defender taking an early bath.
And it led Campbell to single out the new Ayr frontman as a player to watch for the season ahead.
He said: "The big boy up front [Akinyemi] is a right handful and he's given the best centre-half in the league a proper game today.
"Tam O'Brien is an outstanding centre-half but the big boy gave him a right hard time, and not many strikers give Tam O'Brien a hard time, by the way.
"But Tam stuck to his task and I didn't disagree with the sending-off when it came."
Campbell was forced into three half-time changes as Arbroath clung on in the face of constant pressure.
The Lichties boss added: "Ayr look a unit – far better than they did last year.
"I made five changes during the game and was not happy.
"But we showed what Arbroath are about in the second half and I'm absolutely delighted to get away with the point."
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