---
title: "Everton: Fans react to Lucas Digne omission"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/lucas-digne-omission-arsenal-benitez/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Everton"
published: "2021-12-07T18:41:44Z"
modified: "2021-12-07T18:41:44Z"
---

# Everton: Fans react to Lucas Digne omission

**There was no sign of Lucas Digne in the Everton squad for Monday night’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.**

The French defender had [started all but one Premier League game](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/leistungsdaten/spieler/126664) prior to the Gunners’ visit to Goodison Park, but [even though he wasn’t injured](https://theathletic.com/2997436/2021/12/05/everton-arsenal-score-4/), Rafael Benitez made the [‘significant decision’](https://theathletic.com/2997436/2021/12/05/everton-arsenal-score-4/), in the words of The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe, to leave him out entirely.

### What’s going on at Everton?

Everton finally ended an [eight-game](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59455893) winless run stretching back to September courtesy of Demarai Gray’s stoppage-time effort, but before the match, a report from [The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2992220/2021/12/02/they-think-with-money-you-can-handle-everything-everton-a-club-spiralling-out-of-control/) revealed discontent within the Toffees’ camp.

Some players apparently feel constrained by Benitez’s style of play, and one ‘key figure’ even described it as ‘ugly football’.

### Digne had seemed happy

Digne signed a contract extension as recently as [February](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/profil/spieler/126664), committing to the club until 2025.

The 28-year-old’s estimated transfer value now stands at £31.5m, according to [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-digne/marktwertverlauf/spieler/126664).

### Could it be form-related?

The Frenchman’s form has tailed off this season, as shown by the drop in his average [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/89925/History/Lucas-Digne) rating from 7.08 to 6.8/10. His expected assists per 90 have also slipped from 0.2 to 0.13 (via [Understat](https://understat.com/player/1823)).

Fan feed [The Toffee Blues](https://twitter.com/EvertonNewsFeed/status/1467934919905222667) relayed news of Benitez’s call, and here’s what supporters made of it, with some fearing a repeat of how James Rodriguez [abruptly left Goodison Park](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/15134/12414532/james-rodriguez-leaves-everton-for-al-rayyan-the-story-behind-the-colombians-disappointing-spell-on-merseyside) earlier this year after being frozen out by the Spaniard.

### These Everton fans express Digne fears

**“He’s consolidated power and first chance he gets he takes retribution on a player…this is going to end very badly…”**

Credit: [@peterabbit68](https://twitter.com/peterabbit68/status/1467935574908706819)

**“Pushing all the good players out, James, Digne, be DCL and Richarlison next.”**

Credit: [@JoeBazooooka](https://twitter.com/JoeBazooooka/status/1467944558289948683)

**“Benched yes I’d understand more so but fully dropped from the squad…”**

Credit: [@tutes24](https://twitter.com/Tutes24/status/1467937175320899596)

**“If he goes it will be a massive miss and a surprise that a lot of fans won’t miss him till he’s gone.”**

Credit: [@SheepFlavour](https://twitter.com/SheepFlavour/status/1467941692397559816)

**“We are getting the full Benitez experience. Consolidating his power and pushing quality players he doesn’t like out”**

Credit: [@MarcC856](https://twitter.com/MarcC856/status/1467936055869513737)

**“James part 2”**

Credit: [@pombomalvado](https://twitter.com/pombomalvado/status/1467938594442686474)

**In other news, [many Everton fans have reacted to the club’s post-Brands plan](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/everton-fc-news/everton-fans-react-to-clubs-recruitment-plan/)**