Demarai Gray scored winner v Arsenal despite being injured says Rafa Benitez
Everton manager Rafa Benitez has admitted that Demarai Gray was playing through injury when he scored the winning goal against Arsenal on Monday (6 December).
The 25-year-old found the back of the net with a sensational strike from outside of the box in the 92nd minute at Goodison Park, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Toffees.
It was the first time in nine matches that Benitez’s side had picked up three points and was the perfect response to the 4-1 defeat to Liverpool five days earlier.
Speaking to Everton’s official website today (9 December), the Toffees boss claimed he was set to take Gray off due to a back injury before the winger netted the winner.
“Demarai is doing really well,” Benitez said. “He is a player of quality and normally they are less consistent. We are working on that and trying to keep him focused all the time.
“At the end of the game, because he had a knock on his back, I was asking if he wanted to come off – but he was saying, ‘I will stay, I want to do it, I want to do it’.
“He was fantastic and is doing very well for us. Hopefully, we can keep him with the same mentality until the end of the season.”
Commitment
This is brilliant to hear and will only add to Gray’s growing reputation among supporters.
The winger has proved to be a superb addition since signing for just £1.7million from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, scoring five goals and registering two assists in 15 Premier League appearances.
He was once again Everton’s star performer on Monday night even before his goal and his stoppage-time winner will go down as one of the best moments of the season.
In a tough period like the one the Toffees are currently going through, it would be easy for players to go into their shell.
But for Gray to step up and want to play on through injury is testament to his commitment and desire to make a difference at Goodison Park.
Hopefully other players in the team can follow suit and Everton can build some momentum following Monday’s win.
In other Everton news, one Toffees man is set for another spell on the sidelines after suffering an injury against Arsenal.
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