BBC pundit Martin Keown has now said that the performance from Arnaut Danjuma was the only positive Everton can take from yesterday’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Indeed, the £52k-a-week attacker looked lively during his second half cameo, though in truth Everton were already well beaten before the Dutchman made it onto the pitch.
It was a dismal display from the Toffees, but Keown states ‘I suppose’ if there was a positive to take from the game, Danjuma’s performance was one.
Writing via BBC Sport for the Match of the Day 2 analysis, Keown remarked that without Calvert-Lewin, who had to be withdrawn through injury, Everton ‘lacked a focal point’, though Danjuma did well in his absence.
Keown said: “Without him (Calvert-Lewin), Everton lacked a focal point in their attack although I did think Arnaut Danjuma ran the channels well when he came on.
I suppose if you an Everton fan you are scratching around for positives right now – there are not many of them admittedly, but Danjuma is one.”
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Danjuma gave Everton fans a rare glimmer of hope in afternoon to forget
Arnaut Danjuma joined the Blues on a season-long loan deal from La Liga side Villarreal, with Everton securing the Dutch international’s signature at the second time of asking.
The 26-year-old is yet to start for Sean Dyche, having made two substitute appearances in the opening two Premier League games of the season.
Indeed, the attacker has looked like a bright spark when he has made it onto the pitch and could be a very handy player for Everton this season.
However, the Dutchman was given a thankless task at Villa Park yesterday as Everton attempted to get back into the game minus Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Alex Iwobi, not to mention Dwight McNeil who is still recovering from an injury picked up in pre-season.
Positives were few and far between yesterday, but Arnaut Danjuma provides the slightest hope that Everton’s attacking prospects will improve as the season goes on.