MOTD pundits name Everton best possible XI after defeat v Arsenal, senior player axed
By Danny Wright
Ian Wright and Martin Keown have named the best possible team that Ronald Koeman must start using if he is to save his job at Everton following Sunday’s dire 5-2 loss to Arsenal at Goodison Park.
The two pundits picked their team together on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night, and have decided that Koeman must start using Wayne Rooney as the lone striker and play Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the right wing.
The two former Arsenal players have also suggested that the Toffees should switch their formation to a more simplified 4-2-3-1 system to get the most out of record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson, who was blasted by fans for his performance against the Gunners.
“You’ve got to get Sigurdsson in the No 10 role because at Swansea he was a top player,” said Keown, as shown on the BBC Sport website.
“He’s used to bossing things, he’s a passenger at the moment. He’s running around but not doing anything with effect.”
The Match of the Day pundits believes that Jordan Pickford should start in goal behind a back four of Leighton Baines, Ashley Williams, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate, meaning that senior player Phil Jagielka would be axed from the side.
Although he has picked up a one-game suspension for being sent off against Arsenal, the ex-Arsenal players have picked Idrissa Gueye to play in midfield beside Tom Davies.
In attack, they have gone for an attacking midfield trio of Calvert-Lewin and Kevin Mirallas on the wings with Sigurdsson in behind Rooney as the lone striker.
Former England striker Wright believes that the two wing roles of Calvert-Lewis and Mirallas will be crucial to any future success Koeman wants to have at Goodison Park.
“I would play Mirallas and Calvet-Lewis. With the pace [they have got], get the crowd going with some players who are trying to commit,” he said.
In other Everton news, the club are facing a tough transfer decision on this attacker as European giants line up with £14million offers.
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