Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson came under fire after the Toffees lost 3-2 to Arsenal on Sunday. In a frantic match with four first-half goals, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s header 23 seconds into the second-half was enough to seal all three points for the Gunners.
Why Gylfi Sigurdsson Faces Criticism at Everton
Two Poor Performances
The performance of Iceland midfielder Sigurdsson, in particular, caught the attention of Toffees fans. Many were quick to criticise the 30-year-old’s contributions to the team on Sunday and questioned his desire on the pitch.
Sigurdsson failed to impress during the Arsenal match. He only had 51 touches of the ball, attempted no dribbles and committed four fouls and picked up a yellow card for his troubles in the second half.
The match against Arsenal was the second disappointing display from the midfielder in which he contributed little. During the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace, Sigurdsson was dribbled past three times, had just one shot and had 47 touches in the game. As the Toffees secured victory on this occasion, the result may have overshadowed a poor outing from the Iceland midfielder.
Body Language
Sigurdsson was singled out for lacking a desire to show for the ball against Arsenal. One particular instance shows the Richarlison in possession while Sigurdsson free to receive the ball unmarked in midfield. Instead, he pointed for the Brazilian to pass back to Mason Holgate in defence.
It appears that the Everton fans are losing patience with the Sigurdsson’s relaxed demeanour on the pitch. Many believe he must show more willingness to get on the ball, especially as a playmaker.
Hefty Price Tag
Sigurdsson joined Everton from Swansea for £45 million in August 2017. Since his transfer, the midfielder has scored 22 goals and made four assists. His standout season came last year when he found the net 13 times for the Toffees
This season, Sigurdsson has only scored once and made two assists in 27 games in all competitions. Some are beginning to question the Iceland international’s price tag, given his poor form.
However, Sigurdsson is unlikely to be benched by Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian seems to favour Sigurdsson in midfield and started him in nine matches since he took charge in December.
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