Broja could become Sean Dyche saviour at Everton, he must start v Arsenal
Armando Broja can etch his name as an Everton player and save Sean Dyche long-term if he features against Arsenal on Saturday.
The Chelsea loanee has only just made his debut for the Toffees, featuring in an eight-minute cameo in the 4-0 rout of Wolves last time out [4 December].
A much tougher challenge awaits at the Emirates this weekend [14 December], and Dyche may look to shuffle his pack with none of his strikers notching in the Wolves win and Dominic Calvert-Lewin failing to come up with the goods as first-choice.
Broja could be a shot in the dark worth risking in North London, and with the Albanian keen to impress, he could save Dyche from potential long-term job threat by helping deliver the unlikeliest of results.
Everton have to take whatever they can get v Arsenal
Everton will have one primary aim at Arsenal, and that is to remain compact and robust defensively.
Bukayo Saka in particular approaches this game with 15 goal contributions to his name this season, with two goals and an assist in the Champions League in midweek. And that’s before Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz enter the equation.
However, with several of the Gunners’ defence absent through injury, Dyche could seize a slim opening of the door to unleash Broja for his first Everton start. Arsenal will seldom have prepared to face him, instead expecting Calvert-Lewin, and may be caught cold.
In the Premier League, one lapse is enough. If that door remains even the slightest shade ajar, Everton must take any opportunities when they come. They will not be constantly creating, breaking forward in numbers or looking to hold up possession at the Emirates.
One chance, and Broja – with a clean slate unlike most from Goodison Park – maintains a confidence that he can return to action with a real impact. He’s available now, and has to play.
With Dyche having faced scrutiny over his long-term future for much of the campaign, it’s a decision that could ultimately end up saving him.
In other Everton news, James Tarkowski jokes about the upcoming battle between Ashley Young and his son Tyler v Peterborough United.
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