Arsenal and Everton square off at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League with both sides looking to climb up the table.
The Gunners find themselves 11th on the Premier League table trailing Everton, who are 10th by two points.
On the other hand, the Toffees have lost one of their last 11 games in the Premier League while Mikel Arteta’s side are on a six-match unbeaten streak which is much better than their poor start to their season.
Arteta will be proud of his team’s recent performances with Bukayo Saka very instrumental in their unbeaten run in 2020 but they’ll be wary of the double threat of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin with the pair having been in fine form since Marco Silva left.
WHEN AND WHERE?
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Sunday, February 23
Time: 4:30 PM
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 23 home Premier League games against Everton (W19 D4) since a 2-1 defeat in January 1996 at Highbury under Bruce Rioch.
Everton have kept clean sheets in their last two league games against Arsenal, both at Goodison Park, last keeping three in a row back in March 1913 (four in a row). The Toffees have, however, kept just one clean sheet in their last 32 away league games at Arsenal.
Arsenal have scored 327 top-flight goals against Everton – more than any other opponent has scored against another in English top-flight history. The Gunners have also won more top-flight games against Everton than any side has against another (97).
Everton’s 23-game away winless run against Arsenal is their third longest run in their top-flight history against an opponent, after an ongoing 24-game run against Chelsea and 35-game run against Leeds United between 1946 and 2001.
Arsenal are unbeaten in six Premier League games (W2 D4), though haven’t won consecutive games in the competition since a run of three in August 2019. The Gunners are also looking to keep three consecutive league clean sheets for the first time since November 2017.
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal could welcome back into the team Mesut Ozil and Lucas Torreira after both players missed the midweek Europa League game for personal reasons and illness respectively. Kieran Tierny is also fighting to be available for selection once again though Bukayo Saka looks to have secured the left-back position.
Andre Gomes who was stretchered off in Everton’s game against Tottenham in the early part of the season is pushing hard to get into the team after his second week in training with the squad, with Carlo Ancelotti set to hand him some minutes. Theo Walcott and Bernard will be assessed before making a decision while Fabian Delph is available after serving a match ban.
POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUPS
Arsenal: Leno; Bellerin, Mustafi, Luiz, Saka; Xhaka, Ceballos; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette
Everton: Pickford; Coleman, Mina, Keane, Digne; Schneiderlin, Delph; Iwobi, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Calvert-Lewin
PREDICTION
Arsenal 2-2 Everton
