[Arsenal vs Everton Match Preview] Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates for another routine Premier League encounter on Saturday. The home side will be looking to go second in the table as they are currently on a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
The Gunners safely navigated their way past a helpless Monaco team in yesterday’s exciting 3-0 Champions League victory. A brace from Bukayo Saka and an assist for Kai Havertz has now pushed them towards the cusp of an automatic last-16 qualification.
But they need to do better when it comes to their Premier league standings. Although all of their goals in the last game came through open play, they have scored more goals from set pieces in the English league.
From strength to strength 📈
Next up: Everton ✊ pic.twitter.com/o7YEi5dfsV
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 12, 2024
A win this weekend could help them close the gap with league leaders Liverpool, who are six points ahead of them and have played a game less.
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Meanwhile, Everton needs to improve a lot if they want to stay away from the relegation zone. They didn’t play last week as the Merseyside derby was postponed. But they ended their five-match winless run in the 4-0 thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last PL game.
It was the first time they had hit the back of the net since late October. Sean Dyche’s team must level up or risk facing another stressful outing on Saturday.
ARSENAL VS EVERTON: HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
The Toffees have lost their last three league encounters against Arsenal. They did defeat them four times in five clashes between them from December 2020 to February 2023.
However, the Gunners have accumulated 102 wins vs. Everton, the most by any team in the English top-flight history. Mikel Arteta’s side has a strong home record this season, with an 81% win percentage (13 wins in 16 games). Meanwhile, the visiting side has won just one of their past 28 PL away games against their weekend opponent.
20 – Arsenal have scored 20 goals from set pieces (excluding pens) in the Premier League in 2024; their joint-most in a calendar year in the competition (also 20 in 2009). Perfected. pic.twitter.com/HT0rT3Az7M
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 8, 2024
Arsenal have also extracted the most points against Everton, another unbeaten Premier League record. Hence, history favours the North London side to snatch all three points once again.
Arsenal form guide (Premier League form): D, W, W, W, D
Everton form guide (Premier League form): L, D, D, L, W
ARSENAL VS EVERTON: TEAM NEWS
Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are doubtful for the Toffees game. They missed the Monaco tie as they were well rested and it remains to be seen whether they return for the game at N5. Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined.
Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey returned to the squad against Monaco after being absent from training. The latter featured at the right-back spot, and the former was used as a substitute.
Lewis Myles-Skelly got a chance to impress as a left-back and he can start again given the injury problems in the position.
🚨Arsenal are hopeful Gabriel Magalhães will be fit to return against Everton on Saturday.
The player has missed Arsenal’s last three games with a hamstring injury, but is close to returning, despite not being risked in the 3-0 win over Monaco last night.
[@SamiMokbel81_DM] pic.twitter.com/q27vzzd03u
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) December 12, 2024
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Meanwhile, Everton could welcome Michael Keane this weekend. They got an extended break, and their players are all fit to feature against the Gooners. They will still miss James Garner, Chermiti, and Tim Iroegbunam for the Emirates trip.
Arsenal’s predicted lineup: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Miles Skelly, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.
Everton’s predicted lineup: Jordan Pickford, Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko, Orel Mangala, Idrissa Gueye, Iliman Ndiaye, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Dwight McNeil, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
ARSENAL VS EVERTON: OUR PREDICTION
Arsenal are likely to wear down Sean Dyche’s side before seeing out a routine victory at N5. The home side is the better team at the moment, and we expect them to grab more set-piece goals once again. They have a good chance to reduce their gap with Liverpool and should make light work of this game.
Our predicted scoreline: Arsenal 3-0 Everton
