Everton v Arsenal – Preview

Arsenal travel north to Goodison Park hoping to continue their recent revival. They have won their last 5 Premier League games, coming from behind in 4 of those to set the record for most games won in a row after coming from behind. That streak leaves them just 1 point off third-placed North London rivals Tottenham.

Everton, however, saw their average league form worsened by the 3-0 mauling at the hands of bitter rivals Liverpool, before a draw with Sunderland in the FA cup on Saturday. Everton have also played 7 games in the last 21 days so unless Moyes shuffles his pack there will be a big chance the players will suffer from fatigue.

The game will also make Mikel Arteta‘s first return to Goodison park since his summer move to the Emirates after spending six and a half years with the club. Mikel has seemed to settle well into the Arsenal team playing 23 PL games and scoring 6 times.

In regards to players, Everton are likely to be without Gibson (knee), Rodwell (hamstring) and Colemen, has picked up a knock against Sunderland.

Arsenal are without Coquelin (hamstring), Mertesacker (ankle) and Wilshere (ankle) but Vermaelen has shrugged off a calf problem and Diaby is fit again but won’t feature after his appearance, and goal, for the reserves yesterday.

Predicted Line-ups

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Drenthe, Cahill, Neville, Fellaini, Osman, Jelavic.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Chamberlain, Van Persie.

Predicted Score: I’m going to go for a 2-0 win for Arsenal. Everton aren’t in the best of forms and Arsenal have found a new belief in themselves.

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Arsenal Vs. Everton – Match Preview

This Wednesday Arsenal play at Goodison Park. In the last three meeting there have seen Arsenal won two and drawn the other so the history favors us. Everton is a funny side, at the time they are well above relegation and seem to playing to win the FA Cup. After playing a weaker side against Liverpool and then drawing in their cup match you wonder if they will go all out on Wednesday just to get some sort of momentum.

One thing you notice looking at past matches is the offense really goes thru Marouane Fellaini who in most games is given way to much space in which to turn and distribute. His size can cause us some trouble when it comes to winning balls in the air. The best way to defend this is press high and don’t let him have the space. The place we can exploit them is by picking on Leighton Baines who loves to get forward and feed the ball into the middle. We need to play the long ball over the top to Theo and let his speed break them down and give us the space in the middle. Having said this we have to be strong up the middle defensively. The ability of Everton to get the ball in the box through the air has been their main goal threat all year. So our middle must fight to clear the ball and start the counter. As far as possession Everton are a team that don’t need a lot to be dangerous and given our defense has been vulnerable on the counter Arsenal must win the ball in the middle third.

So who will be key for arsenal? Obviously Alex Song is our key to defense and he must tackle and push the ball forward into space. On the offensive side the Ox and Theo must make deep runs behind the defense and I see RVP getting at least one goal from a ball in from the wing.

Everton haven’t scored three goals in a match since October and thats what I think they need to get a three points at home against an Arsenal side that will attack from the beginning!

Prediction, I say Arsenal win this 2-0 with a brace goals from Van Persie.

Well thats what the prophet says. Find me on twitter and give me your predictions @colonialcannon