Everton boss Rafael Benitez has, on Monday evening, provided an altogether cryptic explanation for the absence of Lucas Digne from his squad to face Arsenal.
Gunners test
Benitez will of course lead his troops back into action shortly.
On the back of an alarming stretch of form which has seen them slip to the depths of 16th in the Premier League table, the Toffees are set to welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park, for a highly-anticipated showdown.
Everton, for obvious reasons, will head into tonight’s proceedings nothing short of desperate for a bounce-back result, having not secured a single 3-point haul since all the way back in September.
Such woes even saw the club part ways with Director of Football Marcel Brands 24 hours ago.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 01: Everton Director of Football, Marcel Brands looks on prior to the Premier League match between Everton FC and Huddersfield Town at Goodison Park on September 1, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
‘Not available…’
As alluded to above, though, Everton’s efforts to steady the ship up against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will come with one of the club’s key performers watching on from the sidelines.
The player in question? Lucas Digne.
Upon the hosts’ matchday squad for tonight’s clash being unveiled a short time ago, first-choice left-back Digne marked an altogether conspicuous absence:
Your Everton team to face Arsenal 💪#EVEARS pic.twitter.com/at77JBYVoh
— Everton (@Everton) December 6, 2021
In turn, speaking to the media during his pre-match media duties ahead of kick-off, Rafael Benitez was unsurprisingly drawn on the whereabouts of his defensive star.
The Everton boss, however, refused to provide a straight answer, simply insisting that Digne is ‘not available’, despite assurances elsewhere that the Frenchman has not picked up any form of injury problem.
Rafa Benitez on Lucas Digne absence: “He’s not available.”
Reporter Pat Davison: “You can’t tell us more than that?”
RB: “No. It’s just that we have players coming back and that is the good news for us.” 🤔 #EFC
— Ben Grounds (@Ben_Islington) December 6, 2021
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Ranking all 21 of Marcel Brands Everton transfers
Everton vs Arsenal live streaming: Watch Premier League online
Everton betting odds, next game:
Everton vs Arsenal odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers
Everton’s latest videos
EVERTON V ARSENAL | LIVE PRE-MATCH SHOW FROM GOODISON PARK!
We’re back at Goodison Park as Everton face Arsenal in the latest round of…
2021-12-06T08:25:07Z
EVERTON WOMEN V DURHAM WOMEN | LIVE CONTINENTAL CUP MATCH
Everton Women are back in Conti Cup action on Sunday afternoon when Durham visit…
2021-12-05T15:39:06Z
Everton latest news
Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 15 | 23 | 35 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 15 | 32 | 34 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 15 | 26 | 33 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 15 | 9 | 27 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 | -1 | 25 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 15 | 1 | 24 |
| 7 | Arsenal FC | 14 | -3 | 23 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 15 | -1 | 21 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 15 | -2 | 20 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 15 | -3 | 19 |
| 11 | Leicester City | 15 | -4 | 19 |
| 12 | Brentford FC | 15 | -2 | 17 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 15 | -2 | 16 |
| 14 | Leeds United | 15 | -7 | 16 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 15 | -7 | 16 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 14 | -7 | 15 |
| 17 | Watford FC | 15 | -9 | 13 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 14 | -7 | 10 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 15 | -13 | 10 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 15 | -23 | 10 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 9 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Silva, Bernardo | Manchester City | 7 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 6 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 6 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 6 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 6 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 5 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 5 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 5 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 5 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 5 |
| Sarr, Ismaila | Watford FC | 5 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 | |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 5 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 5 | |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 5 | |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 5 | |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 5 | |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 5 | |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 5 | |
| Lascelles, Jamaal | Newcastle United | 5 | |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 5 | |
| Ward, Joel | Crystal Palace | 5 | |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 5 | |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 | |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 5 | |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 | |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 | |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 1 | 3 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 4 | |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 8 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 4 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Redmond, Nathan | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Henderson, Jordan | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Canos, Sergi | Brentford FC | 3 |
| Lowton, Matthew | Burnley FC | 3 |