In a recent Q & A with the Liverpool Echo, Everton reporter Phil Kirkbride revealed that Andre Gomes is expected to be a part of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the game against Arsenal later this month. Kirkbride said, “The hope remains that Gomes will be part of the squad for the Arsenal game on the 23rd.”
This latest development will be a positive bit of news for everyone associated with the Merseyside club. The Toffees are currently enjoying their mid-season break after winning back-to-back matches against Watford and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
The Portuguese midfielder has missed a significant chunk of this campaign after suffering a severe ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur back in November.
Gomes’ Impressive Spell At Goodison Park Thus Far
Gomes was a regular feature in Marco Silva’s midfield last season and showed some signs of improvement in the early stages of this campaign as well. Even though he has failed to score in the nine matches he has featured this term, his contributions have been immense at the heart of the Toffees midfield.
The 26-year-old has averaged 1.0 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, 0.5 clearances, 0.3 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.4 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League so far (stats via whoscored). As evident from his stats, he has been a jack of all trades as he can do a bit of everything in midfield. However, he has been a disappointment as far as his overall productivity is concerned. Gomes has also secured 29 senior caps for the Portuguese national side but is yet to open his goal-scoring account for his nation.
What Can The European Sensation Add To Ancelotti’s Midfield?
Gomes is a moderately-paced midfielder who can make some darting runs with the ball in the opposition half. He hardly gives away the ball and is quite tidy with his ball-distribution. The Portugal international has shown a lot of hunger to get on the ball and can be a dominant presence at the centre of the park.
Gomes Set To Be Available For The Arsenal Game: Big Boost For The Toffees?
Everton have also been without Jean-Philippe Gbamin’s services over the past few months which have hampered their progress this season. Therefore, Carlo Ancelotti will welcome Gomes back with open arms as he looks to steer his side to a top 6 finish in the English top-flight.
Gomes’ timely return will help the Merseyside outfit cope with fixture congestion and will boost their chances of continuing their excellent run of form in league football. Fabian Delph, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Morgan Schneiderlin have all flattered to deceive with their performances this season. So hopefully Gomes could be the missing link who can help the Toffees bring some joy back to Goodison Park in the final 12 matches of this league campaign.
