Arsenal, who are five points clear at the top of this season’s Premier League table are visiting Everton at the Goodison Park in today’s early kickoff fixture. The Gunners have a chance to extend their advantage to eight points before other title contenders Manchester City, Newcastle United and Manchester United play later today and tomorrow.
Arsenal go into this fixture as the outright stronger side, having won four of their last five matches in the Premier League. Everton on the other hand have only managed a draw in the same number of matches. It is this kind of form that has put Arsenal at the top and left Everton languishing in 19th.
Although Arsenal are high-flying now, Goodison Park hasn’t treated them so well in the last few seasons. They have only managed to win twice in 10. With new manager Sean Dyche in the dugout for his first match in charge, Everton look optimistic for a positive result.
Mikel Arteta, who has now won back-to-back Manager of the Month awards, said in a press conference yesterday that what Sean Dyche did at Burnley speaks for itself, and that Everton appointed someone with the right character given the situation they are in.
Arteta also acknowledged how tough today’s game could be. As quoted by Arsenal’s official website, Arteta said; “We have the experience in the last few years about how tough it has been, and we didn’t get the results that we wanted. When there is a new manager the environment will change, and a lot of things change during the week, so it’s going to be a really tough test.”
Team news
Apart from Thomas Partey who got substituted during the FA Cup loss to Manchester City last week, Mohammed Elneny and Emile Smith-Rowe, Arsenal have no new injury worries. The camp is in good moods, according to Arteta. Gabriel Martinelli extended his contract to 2027 and the January signings are nicely settling in.
At Everton, Dyche gave updates on injured players. Ben Godfrey is closer; Michael Keane is getting fitter in training and James Garner still needs some time.
Elsewhere, Brighton and Hove Albion will host 18th-placed Bournemouth. The Cherries are struggling having lost three of their last four league games.
Brighton look to be getting stronger each matchday that passes by and come into this game after eliminating Liverpool in the FA cup last week. Moises Caicedo, who openly asked for a transfer out to Arsenal that eventually collapsed, is back in training for Brighton so is likely to feature today.
Another team that has greatly improved this season is Newcastle United. They are hosting West Ham later today and are expected to put up a good performance as they continue to pursue Champions League football next season.
West Ham are only one point from safety having won only one of their last five matches. David Moyes’ men will have to dig deep if they want to get anything from Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, who look like they have found a winning formula.
