{{primary_category}}
{{/primary_category}} 
Sky Sports pundits in agreement on 'elusive' Amadou Onana performance in Everton defeat to Arsenal
Sky Sports pundits Stephen Warnock and Sue Smith criticised Everton midfielder Amadou Onana for his “elusive” display in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
The Toffees’ struggles continued on Sunday [18 September] as they failed to offer much of anything at Goodison Park in front of their increasingly frustrated supporters.
Everton’s attackers once again came under the microscope for failing to score for the fourth time in five league games, but Warnock felt Onana’s underwhelming display was more notable.
“Onana was elusive yesterday,” he said on Sky Sports News‘ The Football Show [18 September, 10:28].
“I mean, there’s talk about this guy playing at a higher level, but he’s struggling to play at Everton at the moment. Idrissa Gueye was also really poor. They didn’t look up to the pace of the game.
“Dyche has problems because the one thing you need in the Premier League is athleticism and someone who can keep hold of the ball in midfield.”
Subscribe to Football Insider TV now
Fellow pundit Smith added: “I totally agree with that.”
Midfield struggles
No Everton players have really covered themselves in glory this season in what is shaping up to be another relegation dogfight.
The strikers can’t score, the defenders – on the whole – can’t defend and the midfielders are offering very little.
Whether it’s Onana, Gueye or the more attacking Abdoulaye Doucoure, something has to change in that area of the field.
Onana in particular was disappointing against Arsenal, completing just 81% of his passes [WhoScored].
While that may not sound terrible on the face of it, Arsenal’s Declan Rice completed 93% of his and Martin Odegaard 90%.
As a player in the side to break up play, he also failed to do that, registering not a single interception – seven other Everton players did, for context.
Singling out individuals for Everton’s poor start is not entirely fair, but it simply highlights just how many issues Sean Dyche has to resolve.
In other Everton news, a journalist has urged 777 Partners to ensure they do one thing if their takeover of the Toffees goes through.