Everton's Player of the Season James Garner is looking forward to teaming up with Brennan Johnson again at Hill Dickinson Stadium despite Arsenal legend Alan Smith branding the winger's time at Crystal Palace a disaster.
Smith's criticism of Johnson's Palace spell
Speaking courtesy of BestBettingSites.co.uk, the 63-year-old, who won a brace of League Championships with the Gunners plus the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup-Winners' Cup, netting 115 goals in 351 games, told the ECHO: "It was pretty disastrous, really for Brennan at Selhurst Park, speaking to fans.
"I don't think they'd seen a good performance out of him. He started badly and didn't pick it up.
"I think confidence-wise, he was at a low. I commented on a few games where it seemed like he just didn't want the ball and when he got it, he wasn't really sure what to do with it and when that happens, the fans start getting on your back.
"So, it's a surprising transfer to me. He didn't strike me as a David Moyes player, but it's a great chance for him, a great chance, from Palace to Everton.
"Who would have thought that that would have come to pass after the season he's just had? So, let's see if he can find that old Forest form under Moyes."
Garner's backing and reunion
Johnson netted 19 goals in all competitions in 2021/22 as Nottingham Forest won promotion to the Premier League with Garner on loan from Manchester United. The pair have now been reunited on Merseyside following the winger's Crystal Palace swap deal with Dwight McNeil and the England international is excited to team up with him again.
Speaking at the Men in Blazers event, Garner told Roger Bennett: "Brennan is a very, very good player. He was probably our main player that season at Forest.
"He's very fast, very direct, and scores goals, assists goals. We've seen that in the Premier League and when Tottenham won the Europa League, he was their best player that season.
"I hope he can do it in blue and I'm looking forward to playing alongside him."
Garner's fitness and versatility
Garner was ever-present in Everton's 41 matches in all competitions in 2025/26 but while a groin injury means he'll miss the start of the new campaign, he insists he's happy to play in whichever position the manager sees fit as although he prefers central midfield, he has been deployed by David Moyes in both full-back berths.
The 25-year-old said: "Whether it's left-back, right-back, central midfield, I really don't mind. I've got a football brain and knowledge to play anywhere on the pitch.
"I watch a lot of football, study a lot of football and I was fortunate enough to come through a very good academy as well. I've had to learn a lot of different parts of my game."
Garner added: "I just want to be consistent. So, if I can have another season like I had last season, or even better, I'll be really happy with that.
"I just want to be consistent across the board, with goals and assists, defensive work, a leader. There's no good doing it behind closed doors in training, I need to turn up on a matchday and show all the fans I can do that as well."
