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'I owe a lot' - Armando Broja makes admission over Everton transfer and striker battle

Armando Broja spoke at the Emirates Stadium after helping Everton to a draw with Arsenal

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Armando Broja during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on December 14, 2024

Armando Broja during the match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on December 14, 2024

(Image: Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)

Armando Broja believes he and Dominic Calvert-Lewin can learn from each other as he looks to repay Everton’s faith in him. The 23-year-old striker is ineligible to play in the Blues’ next fixture at home to his parent club Chelsea, but has come on as a substitute to make his first two appearances for Sean Dyche’s side in the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and goalless draw at Arsenal.

Broja has a contract at Stamford Bridge until 2028 but after he completing his deadline day loan switch to Goodison Park, Everton have an option to turn it into a permanent move next summer. The Albanian international might even end up succeeding Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose current deal expires at the end of this season, as the club’s main striker, but for now he is enjoying working alongside the Yorkshireman.

Broja said: “The other strikers are great. They’ve been here for a long time, especially Dom, he knows the club inside out, the fans know him inside out and he’s a great person to learn off as well.

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“He’s given me loads of encouragement in training and has helped me out quite a lot. It’s good to push each other and apply some pressure which is a healthy relationship to have.

“He’s always giving me advice. He can learn things from me, and I can learn some stuff off him as well.

“I just try to play my game. I’m obviously a big, strong lad and I like to run in behind and I’m quite quick at things.”

Having been at Chelsea since he was just seven, the move to Merseyside has been a big change for the Slough-born player who has also had loan spells with Southampton, Vitesse and Fulham, but he’s been delighted with the welcome he’s received at Finch Farm. Broja said: “I was at Chelsea my whole life, but I’ve gone to Everton, which is a massive, massive club. The expectations are high, but I like having that pressure as well, it fuels me and makes me play better.

“They helped me feel welcome. Everyone was really good to me and made me feel like I was one of the players straight away.

“They helped me through my injury as well as it’s not an easy process to go through when you’re coming to a new club and you’re injured. You want to be able to get stuck in straight away, train with your team-mates, help your team-mates and help your manager but obviously I couldn’t and I had to be quite patient.”

If Broja does make a permanent switch, then he will be leading the line for Everton at their new stadium but while that move and the imminent takeover by the Friedkin Group are big issues for the fans, he has been concentrating on just getting back to fitness. He said: “I didn’t really focus on it at the time. I was going through a difficult period with my injury.

“Everton showed a lot of interest in me and they backed me so I owe a lot to the club. They helped me out a lot through my injury and got me back fit and got me back smiling again on the pitch, and I’m really grateful to them and come through that recovery process healthy and I’m feeling good.

“The main thing for any football player is just wanting to play football, being out on the pitch, doing that job that they love. For me, I get to go back out there with a smile on my face, go and help out the team like I need to and I was really happy to be out there again.”

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After making his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Broja was pleased to be able to come off the bench again and help Everton pick up a precious point at Arsenal with his hold-up play in the latter stages helping to alleviate regular waves of pressure from the home side at the Emirates Stadium. He said: “It’s not easy to come here. They’re a great club and they’re a really good team as well.

“The boys fought really, really well and it was a deserved point and we probably could have got even more from the game in the final 10 minutes, because when they were pushing forwards, there were opportunities there. Overall, it was a good display from us, a good defensive display, and I thought we did really well and I’m happy to have played my part.

“When the manager told me to come on, I knew it was going to be a bit of a scrappy game because they were pushing forwards and wanted to score. We wanted to created chances but we were going through a tough time because they were putting a lot of pressure on us and we needed someone to come on and hold the ball up and try and win fouls.

“I tried to play my role and I thought I did that alright, so I was happy to get a few fouls and get my team up the pitch a bit. When the manager calls on me, I just try and help out as much I can.”

Broja added: “All the players were great, especially Myko and Youngy, the two full-backs, they were excellent. Dealing with Saka, Trossard and Martinelli is not easy, they’re good players.

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“The back four were excellent, Jordan as well, and the midfield three, the manager highlighted everyone. He was full of praise and it’s good when you hear that as it gives you a little boost.

“We know we’ve got a tough run of fixtures coming up, but this is a great point for us and four points in our last two games was really important. It’s only going to get harder from now on, but if we’re just going to stick together, and hopefully get more results.”

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