'So brave' – Pundit wowed by Everton defender after what he did v Arsenal

Vitalii Mykolenko didn’t give Bukayo Saka “an inch” as Everton held Arsenal to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, Matthew Upson has said.

Speaking on commentary for beIN Sports (14 December, 4:27pm), Upson was pleased with Mykolenko despite the Ukrainian conceding a free-kick for a foul on Saka in the Toffees’ North London stalemate.

Mykolenko had been given a torrid time by Saka in the first half as Arsenal dominated both possession and almost all the chances at the Emirates, but recovered to mark the England winger out of the game.

Upson said: “It’s great pressure, I have to say – his distance to Saka – he’s not giving him an inch, Mykolenko.

“He may have made a foul there, but his starting position’s so brave, he’s right out (on the wing) with him.”

Vitalii Mykolenko responds to early runaround for Everton v Arsenal

Minus Mykolenko, Sean Dyche would have a massive problem on one side of his Toffees defence, with the 25-year-old currently the only out-and-out left-back in the 53-year-old’s first-team squad.

Ashley Young was been utilised in this position early in the season with the Ukrainian out injured, but when Mykolenko is fit, Dyche essentially has no other choice to play on the left-hand side.

Young’s form as the Blues’ first-choice right-back would make moving him over to the other side of defence difficult for Dyche, and this could be one of several areas the club address in January.

After Mykolenko’s second-half display against Arsenal though – keeping arguably the world’s best right-winger at arm’s length – any incoming left-backs would surely be playing second fiddle to the Ukrainian.

Mykolenko has been Dyche’s left-back by default as part of an underfunded and aging squad, and Evertonians will hope that he can go from strength to strength even if competition does arrive.

In other Everton news, one Toffees player could be given an ultimatum over his future at Goodison Park as contract talks stall.

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