Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to regain his form and confidence ahead of the much-awaited match against Arsenal.
The England international has been going through a difficult time at the club level and has made a number of mistakes in the recent past.
There have been calls from Everton and England fans to bench Pickford and give a chance to someone else between the sticks.
However, Ancelotti—while talking to the media ahead of the Arsenal fixture—has backed the 25-year-old to regain his form and confidence in the near future.
“To be England number one is a responsibility,” said Ancelotti as quoted by Liverpool Echo.
“It is deserved because in my opinion is he is the best goalkeeper England has.
“I am not so afraid of the critics. In the game against Palace he did a mistake and did an amazing save. This is the life of a goalkeeper. You can make a mistake but you have to have the personality to move on quickly.
“Nobody is perfect. We have to accept the mistake of the goalkeeper and also we have to accept Jordan is really important.”
Pickford has been with Everton since the summer of 2017 when he moved from Sunderland.
Since then, the Toffees goalkeeper has represented his current club in 117 matches in all competitions where he has only managed to keep 34 clean sheets.
Everton have been much-improved since Ancelotti’s appointment but face an acid test against Arsenal on Sunday.
Victory would enhance the Goodison club’s chances of European qualification and would end a poor record against the top-six clubs.
Everton supporters will hope that Pickford can be at his best to stop the Arsenal forward line at the weekend.
