Pat Nevin has suggested that the ‘very special’ Nathan Patterson should have signed for Arsenal instead of Everton following his transfer from Rangers, as he told Off the Ball.
The former Toffees winger thinks he could have ‘done better’ than Rafa Benitez’s side and he thought Arsenal would ‘dive in’ and sign the Rangers academy product.
Arsenal already have a Scotsman on board in Kieran Tierney and he has thrived ever since he was signed from Celtic.
Patterson joins from Celtic’s Old Firm rivals and he will be hoping to have a similar impact than his fellow countryman.
There are a number of Scottish players thriving in England’s top-flight, including Tierney, Andy Robertson and Scotland’s Player of the Year, John McGinn.
Nonetheless, Nevin expects Patterson to be a Scotland right-back ‘for the next ten years’, as he lauded the qualities he has at his boots.
On how long Coleman can keep Patterson at bay: “Not for long,” said Nevin. “He is quality. I thought Patterson could have done better than Everton.
“I thought Arsenal would have been a stick on to dive in and go in for him. They know how well Tierney has done, this kid is the same.
“Scotland don’t worry about right-back for the next ten years. That’s it. Sorted. He’s very good and very special.
“The defensive side of it, he’s okay. But the attacking side of it, and it might take him a month or two to bed in. It’s a tough team. He has got to learn the league. He’s playing against better quality. But he is quality.”
Patterson is still a young kid and, at 20-years-old, he is going to need time to settle into a much tougher league.
As mentioned from the names above, all he needs to do is look at his fellow countryman and he can do bits at Goodison Park.
Even though Patterson can operate at left-back, he will be fighting Seamus Coleman for those right-back spots.
The Republic of Ireland international is the experienced man in the Everton dressing room and it’s going to be interesting to see how Benitez uses him during these first few months.
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