Everton: Jarrad Branthwaite on course for stardom after epic display v Arsenal
Everton are not involved in European competition this season but one of their loanees is enjoying a fantastic campaign in the Europa League.
Jarrad Branthwaite is currently excelling with Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and endured his toughest task yet on Thursday (27 October) as the Premier League leaders Arsenal visited the Philips Stadium.
Having won every group stage game prior to that match, the Gunners were favourites to take all three points back to Blighty but PSV were just too good for them on the night.
Joey Veerman and Luuk De Jong were the goalscorers but Mikel Arteta’s side had plenty of chances to score and it was only Branthwaite and his defensive partners who prevented a turnaround.
Dutch national media outlet Voetbal Primeur even raved about him in their player ratings, giving him a 7.5/10 overall for his night’s work, the same as top scorer and talisman Cody Gakpo.
“Branthwaite played a fine game against his compatriots, did a lot of repair work and prevented Arsenal’s 2-1 fifteen minutes before the end,” they said.
Everton chose to loan the Cumbrian out for the season with their eyes on signing at least one central defender to come in ahead of him and ended up with two.
Conor Coady and James Tarkowski have come into the club and revolutionised things almost overnight but once Branthwaite returns to the club, one of those may have to make way for the 20-year-old.
The other alternative could be for a new formation to be used which would then see the youngster slot alongside the experienced England internationals in a back three rather than being forced to sit on the bench.
His ceiling is far too high to be sat around as the Toffees’ backup centre-half next season because if he can be managed right by Frank Lampard, there could be no stopping the Cumbrian colossus.