Alan Pardew blasts 'strange' Jordan Pickford in Everton loss vs Arsenal
Everton star Jordan Pickford has come under fire for his display in the 2-0 loss to Arsenal.
The Blues were undone early on when Ezri Konsa poked home in the seventh minute of the contest on Saturday.
The pressure on the England number one was perhaps increased as Thomas Tuchel was in attendance at the Emirates Stadium.
The result and how Pickford played will only increase speculation about his future between the sticks for his country.
David Moyes' side could not come back into the contest, and Gabriel finished it off in the second-half.
Pickford has come in for criticism after one specific moment in the clash in North London.
What did Alan Pardew claim about Everton star Jordan Pickford in loss to Arsenal
Pickford did not have his finest hour as Konsa scored the first goal.
Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew blasted the Toffees stopper for his involvement in the Gunners' opener.
Pickford flapped at the ball and could not get a solid hand on it, before Vitalii Mykolenko's clearance fell to the former Aston Villa man.
Speaking live on talkSPORT, he said: “Pickford hasn’t really covered himself in glory there, he has got to do slightly better, maybe push it over the bar.
“He’s got a strange sort of hand action, he has just flapped out and Konsa won’t get an easier goal than that.”
Moyes will wish that his keeper done better because it set his side of course for the defeat, and they could not fight their way back into the match.
However, a bigger concern for Pickford will be the fact that his national team manager was watching.
What did Pardew saw about Pickford's England future?
Whether Pickford's status as the Three Lions starter is affected remains to be seen, but it may be safe for now.
Pardew, who managed the likes of West Ham, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, believes he is still the man to beat for the jersey.
He said: “Pickford is a strange keeper, what I was saying before about being calm and collected, he is the opposite.
“He is kind of erratic in terms of his movement and his mannerisms, and that puts nervousness in a team."
If he keeps on making mistakes, though, it may only be a matter of time before the James Trafford is staking his own claim to the number one spot.
He already only played two of the matches in the latest international break, and Trafford will be rubbing his hands together after the developments involving Pickford.
It it clear that Tuchel is ready to look at alternatives, and the nature of the defeat to Mikel Arteta's side, will have perhaps piqued his interest in the goalkeeper situation.