Fans of Everton have been reacting to footage posted on Twitter, highlighting Gylfi Sigurdsson’s performance during the Toffees’ 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
Sigurdsson, who moved to Everton from Swansea in 2017, has made 24 league appearances for the Toffees this season, scoring once and providing two assists.
Since the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti at the club, Sigurdsson has predominantly featured in the centre of midfield in the Italian’s preferred 4-4-2 formation.
However, on Sunday, the 30-year-old was moved out to the left wing for the visit to Arsenal and struggled to have any impact on the game, finishing the match with a WhoScored rating of 6.34.
The £25.2 million-rated midfielder’s poor performance was highlighted in footage posted on Twitter, which appeared to show the Icelandic international’s lack of desire for the ball.
In reaction to the footage, Everton fans have taken to social media, lambasting their player, with many stating he is no longer up to the required standards to play for their club.
Sigurdsson hiding again here! Look at that space he can receive and push into and he’s signalling for the ball to go anywhere but to him. Our ‘playmaker’ ?? pic.twitter.com/QdKVmEtbq7
— Dave Bennett (@BennettDave85) February 23, 2020
This still photo makes it look worse. Scream for it. Take it. Drive into that space onto their back 4. Stand up and be counted for once. So infuriating. How can he NOT be doing that with us chasing the game & only 8 minutes to go? ????? pic.twitter.com/kfL1tPkaA6
— Dave Bennett (@dave_bennett85) February 24, 2020
Spot on. Hides in all the games. His confidence is shot. He’ll be gone in the summer. HOPEFULLY
— David Roberts (@DavidRo34672893) February 24, 2020
He’s totally lost his bottle, legs are gone, can’t do what he used to be able to do, doesn’t even strike the ball cleanly anymore. It’s up to the manager to recognise this
— Griff (@bolski91) February 24, 2020
Said this before, I’d love him gone! Trouble is that there are about 10 others before him too ?
— John James (@nilsatisjje) February 23, 2020
The sooner he’s gone the better for everyone, including himself.
He’s now a liability.
— TheEvertonian (@TheEvertonian1) February 24, 2020
I seen this as well, couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Absolute con artist, fair play to him for tricking us for 10+ years
— Gary Lee (@GaryDeanLee) February 23, 2020
I went mad at this yano look at the space in front of him, he should be gettin the ball and driving us forward
— youngie (@youngie1989) February 24, 2020
Passenger. Can’t pin all the blame on him, he’s legs have gone and he needs moving on
— James (@James1878___) February 24, 2020
What do we think?
Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred formation of 4-4-2 has always been unaccommodating of number 10s, with the Italian having famously admitted he “made a mistake” in selling Gianfranco Zola to Chelsea while boss of Parma.
If Sigurdsson fails to adapt to either a deeper position in the centre of midfield or on the left wing, then he will surely find himself left out of future selection, something which it seems the Everton faithful would welcome with open arms.