Theo Walcott singles out Arsenal star after 0-0 draw with Everton – as Gunners legend claims his opponent ‘won the battle’ at the Emirates
- Arsenal played a goalless draw at home to Everton on Saturday afternoon
- Theo Walcott claimed an Arsenal star let his matchup get the better of him
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Theo Walcott called out one of Arsenal’s star players after he struggled in Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Everton.
Despite having 77 percent of the ball and firing 13 shots at Jordan Pickford, the Gunners were unable to score at home against the relegation battlers.
Walcott, who played for both clubs in his 18-year career, praised Everton left winger Iliman Ndiaye for his defensive efforts in the goalless draw.
He claimed the Senegal international had ‘won the battle’ with Bukayo Saka, who failed to score or assist in his third straight league match.
“Ndiaye started to enjoy defending, which is a rarity,” Walcott told Match of the Day. “He won the battle with Saka.”
Watching a clip of himself defending himself against Saka, the Arsenal legend added: “Ndiaye, this is in 30 minutes, he already looks tired after working so hard.”
Theo Walcott claimed Iliman Ndiaye ‘won the battle’ with Bukayo Saka against Arsenal
Everton signed the 24-year-old from Marseille in the summer for an undisclosed transfer fee
Pickford recorded his sixth clean sheet on Saturday, the most of any goalkeeper this season
Walcott praised Everton’s hard-fought team performance, which earned Pickford his sixth clean sheet of the season – the most by any Premier League goalkeeper.
‘[Everton] sometimes shared jobs. If Ndiaye was not there, Abdoulaye Doucoure would help him. If Doucoure wasn’t there, Idrissa Gueye would come out, just to give the other players a chance to catch their breath.
‘They limited Arsenal to crosses, but then they did [get a chance] You have a goalkeeper who can just make such saves.
‘Jesper Lindstrøm was the same when he came. Jack Harrison exhibited the same behavior. Wingers against wingers.
“But if they got beat, their buddy Ashley Young would help them. Goals from open play are the problem for Arsenal this season.”
Arsenal failed to capitalize on Liverpool’s setbacks, who also dropped points at home in a 2-2 draw with Fulham 360 kilometers away.
They are six points behind the top sides, while Arne Slot’s side still have a game in hand after the Merseyside derby was canceled last Saturday.
