Brennan Johnson should be axed by Everton as damning stat exposes problem

Brennan Johnson's Everton career has not started well, with his display against Arsenal the tip of the sinking iceberg.

The winger arrived from Crystal Palace in a swap deal for Dwight McNeil, providing David Moyes with added pace out wide.

That can be a key asset for the Scotsman, as getting up the pitch as quickly as possible is important for a side that plays like Everton.

However, there is a problem with that tactic when the very man you seek to run with the ball barely gets on it.

While Everton were always unlikely to hold a lot of possession at the Emirates, Johnson's stats from the match are quite damning.

Even players who did not start the game came out on top of the Welshman.

Why Brennan Johnson must be dropped by Everton

Johnson has yet to score or assist for Everton in the Premier League this season.

He has been extremely ineffective in the final third, and when Everton need their forwards to step up, he has been unable to prove he can.

Against Arsenal, it was perhaps the worst of the lot when it comes to his performances.

Johnson touched the ball just nine times in his 72-minute appearance, a stat that even those who came on late during the game out did as per FotMob.

Among every player on the pitch, only Charly Alcaraz had fewer, with six. And he came on in the 86th minute.

Johnson was ultimately a net negative, with him committing four fouls, as well as only winning two out of seven duels.

Performances like that of Johnson are the kind that should warrant a long spell on the bench, but whether Moyes will do that remains to be seen.

Tyler Dibling could finally get Everton chance

With Johnson failing to impress, the chance for Tyler Dibling to emerge as an Everton star is there.

The young winger has not often got game time, but has been frequently utilised by Moyes off the bench in 2026-27.

Now, if Dibling cannot even get a start amid Johnson's poor form, he will only further ask questions of his manager.

Everton were simply blunt down their right-hand side, and something needs to change ahead of the upcoming fixtures.

And Dibling in for Johnson makes the most sense when it comes to swapping things around.