The Premier League action resumes this weekend after the international break, and we have a big game in store as Everton Welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park this Sunday afternoon. Mikel Arteta returns to face the club where he made a name for himself in England before he ultimately signed for Arsenal. The encounter between these two clubs is always exciting, and we’re hoping this game will have the same drama as previous seasons.
The clubs have occasionally competed with each other for a spot in Europe in the 2000s, but Everton’s recent struggles have altered the dynamics, and they now find themselves as the underdogs in this tie. The Toffees have been in multiple relegation battles in the past few seasons, but despite their underwhelming form, they always manage to go up against the Gunners with unwavering determination. This is reflected by the fact that they have been undefeated against them since 2017 at Goodison Park and have managed to steal some crucial points off Arsenal in the past few seasons.
Arsenal are in a strong position with 10 points from four games, and they went into the international break brimming with confidence after defeating Manchester United in a nail-biting thriller in match week four. The Gunners are showing early signs of being genuine title contenders; however, despite Everton struggling you can guarantee that they won’t be taking them likely.
Everton have only managed to secure one point from four matches and are currently in the relegation zone. They started their campaign with three scoreless defeats and only managed a 2-2 draw against Sheffield United in their last game. A win against Arsenal could offer a significant morale boost for the team and potentially propel them towards a season where they are not constantly living with the fear of relegation.
Everton vs. Arsenal Tips
Everton are in a challenging position at the moment, currently sitting 18th with three losses in four games and a goal difference of -6. The Toffees’ performance against stronger sides has raised questions, with their only point coming from a match against Sheffield United, a team also fighting the relegation battle. With the absences of players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jack Harrison, Dele Alli, and Seamus Coleman, the stage is set for Arsenal to exploit Everton’s current weaknesses and secure a positive result.
Arsenal currently sit 5th in the league but have the same number of points as Tottenham, who are 2nd on goal difference. They have shown resilience and strong attacking potential, which has resulted in them winning three of their four games and a goal difference of +4.
The return of key striker Gabriel Jesus from injury significantly boosts their already strong attacking lineup and could cause problems for Everton. Martin Odegaard is another potent threat who has netted an impressive 10 away league goals since last season, with only Haaland and Kane outsourcing him in this department. The skipper’s knack for scoring crucial goals makes him one to watch in this game, and it wouldn’t be surprising if we see him on the scoresheet.
ODDS FOR ODEGAARD TO SCORE FIRST 6.60 @ SB.IO
Everton vs. Arsenal Match Analysis
Everton have seen a number of their players leave this transfer window and have struggled to find proper replacements that will fill the gaps for them. Notable names such as Conor Cody, Alex Iwobi, Demari Gray, and Neal Maupay have all bid farewell, and Everton will certainly miss their contributions from last season. The situation is further worsened by injuries to key players like Calvert-Lewin, Seamus Coleman, Danjuma, and their biggest summer signing, Beto. All these setbacks cast a shadow over Everton’s ability to find a decent starting lineup for the upcoming clash against Arsenal.
On Arsenal’s end, they will be without key defensive players Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber, but with Gabriel integrated back into the team and their fullbacks staying fit, they have ample backups. Gabriel secured his first cap for Brazil this international break, and Tomiyasu impressed heavily against Germany, which shows potential for Arsenal to stabilise their defence for the title charge.
The presence of leaders like Rice and Odegaard, who played very well in the match against Manchester United, adds further strength to their lineup. The trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus also poses a formidable challenge for Everton’s defence, as their combination of pace and skill demands a top-notch performance from the Toffees’ backline to contain the offensive threat.
Everton vs. Arsenal Predictions
Arsenal look all set to take the win, but history tells us that it is rarely an easy ride. While they’re still strong contenders for the title, they haven’t started off as impressively as Man City mostly due to their defensive vulnerabilities. They’ve also had a bit of trouble against Everton at home in the past, even when Everton were struggling. However, this time, Arsenal might just edge it, especially considering all the problems at Everton FC.
We’re backing Arsenal to win 2-1, as they have a tendency to let in some sloppy goals, like we saw against Manchester United and Fulham. Arsenal are also still figuring out their best starting lineup, as they have been experimenting with the formation since the start of the season. It looks like they still haven’t found the right starting 11, but their overall attacking strength should be enough to secure them the win.
ODDS FOR ARSENAL TO WIN 2-1 9.410 @ BLACK
The face-off between Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale, who are both set on being England’s number one goalkeeper, adds an interesting element to the match. Both keepers played a game each in the recent international break and are eager to secure the starting goalkeeper spot for England in the upcoming Euros. This competition between two talented goalkeepers promises to be engaging, but we don’t back either of them to keep a clean sheet.
ODDS FOR BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 1.801 @ BLACK
Everton Team News
The Toffees don’t have much good news on the injury front as they go into this game. Their longest-serving player, Seamus Coleman, is steadily recovering from a knee injury through supervised training sessions and aims to return in the coming weeks. Dele Alli is also going through rehabilitation from a hip injury and his return date remains uncertain. England’s U21 centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite is, however, targeting to return post the international break after a minor groin issue.
Another Englishman, Jack Harrison, is making progress on his own groin injury and is working closely with a medical team at Everton, but he is yet to integrate into full team training. Andre Gomes and James Tarowski are also managing their injuries tactfully at the moment, and it will be a while before they are back into the team. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also on the sidelines after a recent head injury that has kept him out for a while now, and it is unlikely that he will be back anytime soon. Michael Keane and Lewis Dobbin are both under assessment for knocks and there is a good chance that they’ll be available for Sunday’s game.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal in recent history have struggled with a string of injuries, but they find themselves in a more favorable position than Everton. The Gunners have survived the international break without any injuries, and Thomas Partey is the only notable player who is currently sidelined. Interestingly, the Ghanian was often deployed as a right back this season, a position different to his natural role in the midfield, and Arsenal have plenty of decent cover for him there.
Takehiro Tomiyasu received a lot of praise for his performance in Japan’s 4-1 win over Germany and will be looking to fight for the right-back spot with Ben White. Declan Rice is also settling well into the defensive midfield position and even won Arsenal’s Player of the Month for August. With these developments, Arsenal should be well-equipped to mitigate the absence of Partey. Elsewhere, Jurrien Timber and Mohamed Elneny are sidelined with long-term injuries, and there is no definitive timeline for their return at the moment.
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