Everton vs Arsenal
Date: 19/12/2020
K/O: 17:30
Venue: Goodison Park
Referee: Andre Marriner
TV: Sky Sports
Everton will hope to continue their improved recent form as they welcome struggling Arsenal to Merseyside for Saturday’s evening kick-off.
The Toffees kept consecutive clean sheets in victories over Chelsea and Leicester and enter the weekend in fifth position in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s first open play goal in over 700 minutes wasn’t enough to beat Southampton on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw leaving the Gunners down in 15th after 13 games.
Both sides will be forced into at least one change, with Everton midfielder Allan suffering a hamstring injury against Leicester and Arsenal centre half Gabriel serving a one-match suspension after his red card against Southampton.
Team News
Everton
Allan was stretchered off during the first half against the Foxes and is expected to join Fabian Delph, Lucas Digne and Jean-Philippe Gbamin on the sidelines, though Seamus Coleman and James Rodriguez are closing in on a return to the side. Carlo Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that Rodriguez will not be ready for the visit of Arsenal however, but Coleman is available.
Ancelotti chose to start Robin Olsen on Wednesday and was repaid with a clean sheet, though after the game the Italian confirmed that Pickford will start on Saturday.
Coleman could return immediately to captain the side from right-back, with Ben Godfrey likely to make way. Michael Keane and Yerry Mina have looked assured as a centre-back partnership in the last two games and will likely continue, with Mason Holgate set to continue to fill in at left-back.
With Allan and Delph set to miss out, Andre Gomes and Tom Davies appear to be in a straight battle to start alongside Abdoulaye Doucoure and Gylfi Sigurdsson in midfield. If Everton start in a 4-3-3, Rodriguez will start on the right of a front three if fit, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin through the middle and Richarlison on the left. Alternatively, Ancelotti could choose to utilise a 4-2-3-1 setup, allowing Sigurdsson a roaming role in the middle with the extra work rate of Alex Iwobi and Richarlison on the wings.
Arsenal
Central defender Gabriel will sit out the trip to Merseyside, with David Luiz or Shkodran Mustafi likely to replace him. Bernd Leno will continue in goal with Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding also expected to retain their places, though Ainsley Maitland-Niles could make way for Hector Bellerin with the Spaniard available for selection after serving a one-match suspension.
With Granit Xhaka still suspended and Thomas Partey likely to miss out through injury, Dani Ceballos and Mohamed Elneny could line up in midfield once again, though Joe Willock remains an option if Mikel Arteta opts to rest either of his regular starters.
Nicolas Pépé made a quiet return to the side after a suspension of his own and could drop out with Willian pressing for a recall. Elsewhere in the Gunners front line, Alexandre Lacazette could return in place of Eddie Nketiah, while teenager Bukayo Saka will surely be afforded a rest at some point over the festive schedule. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored his first non-penalty goal in the league since the opening day in midweek and will start either on the left-wing or upfront.
Records and Stats
- All-time H2H record: Everton 61-108 Arsenal (46 draws)
- Last 10 H2H record: Everton 2-7 Arsenal (1 draw)
- Everton have competed in more English top-flight campaigns than any other club (118), while Arsenal currently hold the record for the longest broken streak in the first tier (95 seasons).
- Arsenal’s total of 11 League goals after 13 games is their lowest in the Premier League era. The Gunners have only ever had a negative goal difference at this stage of the season twice; in 2019/20 (-1) and 2020/21 (-5).
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored or assisted in 11 of his 13 Premier League appearances this season, only failing to do so against Southampton and Leeds.
Predicted Starting XIs
Everton (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Coleman, Keane, Mina, Holgate; Doucoure, Gomes; Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno; Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney; Elneny, Ceballos; Willian, Lacazette, Saka; Aubameyang
Score Prediction: Everton 1-1 Arsenal
Both sides have improved in the last two games, but there still remains a cloud over Arsenal. Their recent inability to keep 11 players on the pitch for the full 90 has cost them but their goal-scoring record is unsatisfactory even so. I expect the Gunners to control this game, but do not see the goals flowing at either end.
