Arsenal v Everton: Predicted line-ups and live commentary as Gunners eye set-piece history and Lewis-Skelly is rewarded

Arsenal need a win to keep up in the Premier League title race this weekend as they welcome Everton to the Emirates. The Gunners dropped points away at Fulham last weekend, allowing Chelsea to move above them and become Liverpool’s closest challenger. Arsenal won in Europe in midweek after a draw with FulhamGetty Mikel Arteta saw a response from his side in midweek as they beat Monaco in the Champions League, and they will look to build on that. Sean Dyche’s men won’t make it easy for their opponents though, as they return to action following a weekend off after the Merseyside derby was postponed. Arsenal vs Everton: Corner specialists It’s well known this season, that Arsenal love a corner goal. They’ve scored from one in all of their last three Premier League games. That incredible prowess from set pieces has seen them move up to 23 total goals from corners since the start of last campaign. Of course, that’s more than any other team in the top-flight. If the Gunners score from another one against Everton, it will be the first time ever that they have netted four such goals in consecutive games. The last team to achieve that feat was Liverpool two years ago. Arsenal’s corners are a work of art, and that comes down to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who has been so good at his job that he now has a mural outside the Emirates. Jover will be planning some more unique tactics to challenge the Toffees and he’ll be hopeful of another goal to make some history. Arsenal just keep scoring from cornersGetty After a run of four defeats in five Premier League games against Everton between 2020 and 2023 (W1), Arsenal have now won each of their last three against the Toffees. Everton have won just one of their last 28 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D4 L23), picking up a 1-0 victory in April 2021. Arsenal’s 102 wins against Everton is the most any side has beaten another in English top-flight history, while their 344 top-flight goals against the Toffees is also the most. Arsenal vs Everton: Predicted line-ups Arsenal will hope to have Gabriel back to start against Everton. The Brazilian has missed the last three games in all competitions through injury, with Jakub Kiwior taking his place next to William Saliba. He is still a doubt but could return, while Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White are all expected to miss out. If he doesn’t, in front of David Raya will be Saliba, Kiwior and Jurrien Timber, and Myles Lewis-Skelly may have earned a start. The teenager impressed at left-back in midweek, so he could start there again, allowing Timber to play on the right and Thomas Partey to move back into midfield. If that happens, Declan Rice will sit next to Martin Odegaard while Kai Havertz will lead the line and try to break down the Toffees’ defence. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are likely to remain on the wings, with Gabriel Martinelli struggling for form this season. Everton are unlikely to make many changes from their last outing. The game against Liverpool was called off last weekend, but before that, Dyche’s side gave Wolves a 4-0 thumping at Goodison Park. James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are the only definite absentees for this clash, with Michael Keane set to return to full fitness. In goal, Jordan Pickford will sit behind a back four of Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Idrissa Gueye and Orel Mangala will form the midfield along with Abdoulaye Doucoure as Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil provide width. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored since September but Dyche seems to want to stick with him up front, so Beto will have to stay patient. Since returning from injury on November 10, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has created the most chances of any player in the Premier League (17), with seven of those created for teammate Bukayo Saka, the most from one player to another in that time. Everton’s only away Premier League win in 2024 came at promoted Ipswich Town in October (D6 L9), with their last three away wins coming at teams starting the day in 15th, 19th and 17th respectively. They’ve only won one of their last 39 away matches against teams starting the day in the top-three (D11 L27), winning at Leicester in December 2020. Arsenal vs Everton: What has been said? 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly majorly impressed in the Champions League in midweek and Arteta sang his praises post-match. Speaking after a 2-0 win over Monaco, Arteta said: “A word for Myles – 18-years-old and to make his debut in the Champions League is a great highlight of the game. “What I like about him is his courage, the position he takes, how he penetrates with the ball. “He’s one of our own, he has a bright future ahead of him. As a club and a manager we have to be happy with him comin

DavidLetterman

Dec 13, 2024 - 11:53

0 4229

Arsenal v Everton: Predicted line-ups and live commentary as Gunners eye set-piece history and Lewis-Skelly is rewarded

Arsenal need a win to keep up in the Premier League title race this weekend as they welcome Everton to the Emirates.

The Gunners dropped points away at Fulham last weekend, allowing Chelsea to move above them and become Liverpool’s closest challenger.

Arsenal won in Europe in midweek after a draw with Fulham

Mikel Arteta saw a response from his side in midweek as they beat Monaco in the Champions League, and they will look to build on that.

Sean Dyche’s men won’t make it easy for their opponents though, as they return to action following a weekend off after the Merseyside derby was postponed.

Arsenal vs Everton: Corner specialists

It’s well known this season, that Arsenal love a corner goal.

They’ve scored from one in all of their last three Premier League games.

That incredible prowess from set pieces has seen them move up to 23 total goals from corners since the start of last campaign.

Of course, that’s more than any other team in the top-flight.

If the Gunners score from another one against Everton, it will be the first time ever that they have netted four such goals in consecutive games.

The last team to achieve that feat was Liverpool two years ago.

Arsenal’s corners are a work of art, and that comes down to set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who has been so good at his job that he now has a mural outside the Emirates.

Jover will be planning some more unique tactics to challenge the Toffees and he’ll be hopeful of another goal to make some history.

After a run of four defeats in five Premier League games against Everton between 2020 and 2023 (W1), Arsenal have now won each of their last three against the Toffees.
Everton have won just one of their last 28 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D4 L23), picking up a 1-0 victory in April 2021.
Arsenal’s 102 wins against Everton is the most any side has beaten another in English top-flight history, while their 344 top-flight goals against the Toffees is also the most.

Arsenal vs Everton: Predicted line-ups

Arsenal will hope to have Gabriel back to start against Everton.

The Brazilian has missed the last three games in all competitions through injury, with Jakub Kiwior taking his place next to William Saliba.

He is still a doubt but could return, while Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White are all expected to miss out.

If he doesn’t, in front of David Raya will be Saliba, Kiwior and Jurrien Timber, and Myles Lewis-Skelly may have earned a start.

The teenager impressed at left-back in midweek, so he could start there again, allowing Timber to play on the right and Thomas Partey to move back into midfield.

If that happens, Declan Rice will sit next to Martin Odegaard while Kai Havertz will lead the line and try to break down the Toffees’ defence.

Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard are likely to remain on the wings, with Gabriel Martinelli struggling for form this season.

Everton are unlikely to make many changes from their last outing.

The game against Liverpool was called off last weekend, but before that, Dyche’s side gave Wolves a 4-0 thumping at Goodison Park.

James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are the only definite absentees for this clash, with Michael Keane set to return to full fitness.

In goal, Jordan Pickford will sit behind a back four of Ashley Young, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite and Vitaliy Mykolenko.

Idrissa Gueye and Orel Mangala will form the midfield along with Abdoulaye Doucoure as Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil provide width.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin hasn’t scored since September but Dyche seems to want to stick with him up front, so Beto will have to stay patient.

Since returning from injury on November 10, Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has created the most chances of any player in the Premier League (17), with seven of those created for teammate Bukayo Saka, the most from one player to another in that time.
Everton’s only away Premier League win in 2024 came at promoted Ipswich Town in October (D6 L9), with their last three away wins coming at teams starting the day in 15th, 19th and 17th respectively. They’ve only won one of their last 39 away matches against teams starting the day in the top-three (D11 L27), winning at Leicester in December 2020.

Arsenal vs Everton: What has been said?

18-year-old Lewis-Skelly majorly impressed in the Champions League in midweek and Arteta sang his praises post-match.

Speaking after a 2-0 win over Monaco, Arteta said: “A word for Myles – 18-years-old and to make his debut in the Champions League is a great highlight of the game.

“What I like about him is his courage, the position he takes, how he penetrates with the ball.

“He’s one of our own, he has a bright future ahead of him. As a club and a manager we have to be happy with him coming through.

“It is a great feeling to be able to change someone’s life.”

Saka also spoke about Lewis-Skelly, revealing: “I just said to him ‘this is his level’, he needs to have no doubts, play the game and have confidence.

“We see what he’s doing in training. We are pleased for him and he played a key part in the first goal. He just needs to keep going. I’m just so proud of him.”

This is the first Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Everton kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday since December 2011, a 1-0 win for the Gunners at the Emirates courtesy of a Robin van Persie strike.
Everton have failed to score in each of their last three away Premier League matches, attempting 42 shots with an xG of 3.26 without success and are the only side without an away goal since the start of November. They last went four in a row without a goal across October/November 2022.