Members of the media have heaped praise on midfielder Amadou Onana as Everton seal a vital 1-0 win over Premier League title-chasers Arsenal.
The Lowdown: Toffees secure shock victory…
Sean Dyche took charge of his first Toffees match this afternoon and secured the dream outcome with Everton clinching a surprise victory over Arsenal.
The Merseysiders battled hard for a very encouraging 90 minutes, putting real pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side when in possession, and they arguably should’ve been ahead sooner.
Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed gaping opportunities for Everton but the home side’s set piece play finally paid off when James Tarkowski buried a guiding header at the far post on 60 minutes.
Dyche’s men held on for a well-earned three points in what could prove to be a huge, huge win as they fight for survival.
The Latest: Onana praised…
The national media picked out one Everton star in particular for his display with Belgium international Onana attracting major praise.
Reporters from various outlets claimed the former Lille star was in fact Dyche’s best player on the day – explaining:
“Amadou Onana has been outstanding for #EFC #EVEARS” – Connor O’Neill (Liverpool Echo)
“Onana has been superb today” – Richard Buxton (Premier League football reporter)
“Amadou Onana has been the best player on the pitch today, by some distance” – Sam Dean (The Telegraph)
The Verdict: Incredible…
The 21-year-old was also called the ‘catalyst’ of Everton’s brave, dogged display by journalist Josh Bunting, and we’re inclined to agree.
A big factor in the win against Arsenal this afternoon was Everton’s consistent application and determination, especially in the middle of the park, with Onana front and centre of that.
As per SofaScore, the towering midfielder ranked as one of Dyche’s top four best players on the day and took a massive 46 touches of the ball – more than any other Everton player.
Onana grabbed the game by the scruff of it’s neck and nearly got an assist for his efforts – driving forward with a bursting first half run to put the ball on a plate for Calvert-Lewin.
The Englishman missed that gaping opportunity inside Arsenal’s penalty area but Onana’s surge was a brilliant one.
He is right to receive huge praise and we believe the player could well kick on become a major player for Everton in their relegation battle.
About the Author
