December 15th 2024.
During the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Everton at the Emirates on Saturday, there was a notable battle between the Gunners' Bukayo Saka and the Toffees' Iliman Ndiaye. Theo Walcott, who played for both teams during his career, commented on the match during a segment on BBC's Match of the Day. He pointed out that Ndiaye seemed to relish the task of defending against Saka, which is not often seen in modern football.
Walcott went on to analyze the defensive performance of Everton, who managed to hold Arsenal to a 0-0 draw. He praised Ndiaye for his efforts against Saka, noting that the left winger had clearly won their individual battle. Walcott also highlighted the teamwork and selfless defending displayed by other Everton players, such as Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski, and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The former player also mentioned the impressive saves made by Pickford and the solid performances of substitutes Jesper Lindstrøm and Ashley Young. He noted that even when Saka or fellow Arsenal winger Jack Harrison managed to get past their opponent, they were often met with support from their teammates, such as Doucoure or Idrissa Gueye.
Despite Arsenal's dominance in possession, they struggled to create clear cut chances due to Everton's disciplined defending. Walcott acknowledged that this has been a recurring issue for the Gunners this season, with most of their goals coming from set pieces rather than open play. Overall, he praised Everton for their strong defensive display and their determination to work hard for each other on the pitch.
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