Everton vs Arsenal preview, team news, tickets and prediction
Relegation-dwellers Everton must deliver vital points as their campaign threatens to be thrown into an early scramble to escape the relegation zone.
The return of domestic football after the September international break will see Arsenal aim to maintain their unbeaten streak against Sean Dych’s Everton at Merseyside.
The Toffees are already under pressure after a chaotic start to the campaign when they failed to win any of their first three Premier League games and only secured their first point - and goals - of the season at Sheffield United.
Everton lost at home to Fulham on a promising opening day before putting up an even worse showing in a 4-0 thrashing at Aston Villa. Sasa Kalajdzic stuck a dagger in Evertonian hearts with a late header when they hosted Wolves but by matchday four, Abdoulaye Doucoure, scorer of their final goal of last season, popped up with the opener against Sheffield.
Scoring alone was not enough for Dyche’s men who lost their lead before halftime until Arnaut Danjuma’s second-half equalizer earned a frustrating 2-2 draw.
Notwithstanding, Everton have beaten the Gunners four times in their last six encounters, with three of those coming at Goodison Park. There is definitely something to playing in Liverpool as they also got ten of their 12 all-time wins against Arsenal on home soil.
Undefeated Arsenal head to the North West as clear favourites with Mikel Arteta looking to exact revenge on his former club after last season’s title hopes were dented by one of the shock results of the season in a 1-0 triumph on Dyche’s Goodison Park debut.
Although they won the return leg 4-0 at the Emirates, Everton away represents a bogey ground that Arsenal must overcome.
The Gunners have had the best possible start to a very important season in which they will be competing in the UEFA Champions League. After seeing off Nottingham Forest 2-1 in their first match, they showed a more resilient side to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 via a Martin Odegaard penalty.
A second consecutive London derby against Fulham didn’t go to plan, however, as Arsenal conceded a first-minute goal and another equalizer a few minutes from full-time. Arteta’s men served up their most electric performance yet when last-gasp strikes from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus completed a superb 3-1 comeback against Manchester United.
They must build upon the maturity of last season’s unexpected title charge and Arteta is duly finding ways to make them evolve and assert themselves more on opponents.
It’s already shaping up to be another memorable campaign and a win at Goodison Park would really spread the belief within players and fans.
Match tickets
This guarantees a keenly-contested affair that will be shown live on Sky Sports and it all begins at 5:30 pm UK time on Sunday, September 17 which was rescheduled from Saturday. This is due to Newcastle United's home game with Brentford being bought a day forward for their Champions League campaign that kicks off the following Tuesday.
The over 39,000-seater stadium will be packed with passionate fans of both clubs who are willing their team on for the three points. The Blues supporters always make it a difficult atmosphere for their visitors and Arsenal are surely in for a tough evening especially given Everton’s desperate need for a result. Everton vs Arsenal tickets are available on reselling sites.
Away fans may find Arsenal tickets harder to get from club sources so it is advisable to begin to source them from ticket reselling sites right away.
Team news
The brisk exits of Alex Iwobi and Neal Maupay on transfer deadline day threatened to plunge Everton’s already depleted squad into turmoil as they search for their first win of the season. However, Dyche would be satisfied with Jack Harrison, Arnaut Danjuma, Chermiti, Beto and the veteran Ashley Young on a free.
The Toffees will need as many healthy legs as possible against Arsenal as Harrison and Dele are continuing their individual rehabilitation from injuries. Seamus Coleman is out long-term while Dominic Calvert-Lewin recovers from his latest setback which is a gruesome cheekbone fracture he suffered 38 minutes into his belated return against Aston Villa.
The good news is the striker will not require surgery and should be available again after the international break.
Arsenal oversaw plenty of exits and brought in Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, David Raya and record-signing Declan Rice over the summer window.
There is an air of delight after Gabriel Jesus made his comeback following a knee surgery and scored the euphoric third goal against United. The only sure absentees from the Everton game are Mohamed Elneny and Timber who ruptured his ACL on his club debut.
Line-ups
Dwight McNeil returned to training after an ankle problem sustained in pre-season and after coming on in the draw at Sheffield, would be eyeing a return to the lineup following the international window. Dyche will be desperate for the addition of quality McNeil offers and his set-piece ability could be key just as it provided the match-winning moment the last time they met Arsenal at home.
Brazilian new signing Beto will also look to be further integrated into the team as they desperately need inspiration up front.
Everton: Pickford; Patterson, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, Young; Garner, Onana, Gueye, Danjuma; Doucoure; Beto
There has been a brewing debate about the position of Kai Havertz in the Arsenal team and whether his presence is detrimental to its overall balance. Fabio Vieira has looked bright and creative off the bench and is ready to step in for the German but Arteta would also be hesitant to push Jesus into the lineup, especially given the form Eddie Nketiah is in.
Central defender Gabriel Magalhaes has won back his starting place following the injury to makeshift right-back Thomas Partey, allowing the team to revert to last season’s recognised backline in the process.
Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Magalhaes, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli
Prediction
Arteta’s side have once again been one of the best teams in the Premier League this season and they must assert that message in a big test after the international break.
On the other hand, this has potential banana skin written all over it as the two-week pause favours the hosts who would have had enough time to perfect their shape and strategy to cause the Gunners an upset while the visitors would be wishing their several international players return fit and healthy.
Yet, we predict that Arsenal will have too much quality and wind in their sails to get the victory
Everton 0 - 1 Arsenal
