Michael Ball delivers verdict on Everton left-back Lucas Digne
Michael Ball was surprised that Everton defender Lucas Digne was dropped from the squad by Rafa Benitez against Arsenal on Monday night.
The football pundit, writing for the Liverpool Echo, has suggested that the French defender has been poor and below par this season.
Benitez started with Ben Godfrey at left-back in the 2-1 victory against the Gunners.
“If there is an issue there, that’s up to the pair of them to sort out inside. Fingers crossed they can iron out any problems, man to man,” wrote Ball for Liverpool Echo.
“His job is to stop crosses and he hasn’t done that recently and when he gets forward his job is to get the ball into the opposition box like he did when he first came to the club but he seems very tentative now, taking an extra touch, and that also goes back to under the previous manager.
“Digne needs to look at himself in the mirror. Yes he’ll be frustrated not being part of the squad but subconsciously maybe he’s been thinking that he hasn’t got any competition.”
Spot on
The popular pundit is spot on here with his assessment.
Digne’s form has been a concern for a while. When he first joined the club, he was outstanding.
In the last 18 months or so, his form has dipped gradually.
Although he is still able to provide superb crosses and create problems going forward, his defensive abilities have come under strong scrutiny.
Benitez wants him to defend more rather than going forward, and he hasn’t done that recently.
Ball suggests that the 28-year-old has become more tentative and he’s taking extra touches that show the defender is lacking in confidence at the moment.
While there are suggestions that Digne could be the first high profile player who could be sold by Benitez, it is likely that the Spaniard will give him a chance to shine.
Benitez needs to add at least two players in each position so as to develop competition within the squad. Nevertheless, Digne needs to improve, and quickly.
In other Everton news, an ex-Premier League referee was horrified by this controversial moment in the win over Arsenal.
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