On Saturday, at 17:30, Everton and Arsenal face in the 14th round of the Premier League, in a hot duel between Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta. There are all chances to see a quality show, and the “gunners” have an extra stake: the position of manager Mikel Arteta is in danger, and a new failure in the championship could be fatal for the Iberian.
Everton seems to have recovered from the poor run in the league, and now boasts zero wins over Chelsea (1-0) and Leicester (2-0). Certainly the confidence of Carlo Ancelotti’s students is high, and Arsenal is at the opposite end from this point of view. The white-reds managed only one point last season, with Southampton (1-1), after playing numerically inferior for one half.
Defensive is Arteta’s biggest problem, because Arsenal have conceded a goal in the last 6 consecutive matches! He escaped only with Molde (3-0), in the UEFA Europa League groups. 9 matches have passed since Arsenal’s last victory in the championship, and in 9 games since the start of the season, the “gunners” have scored only once. However, they have good stats on the sutures sent out and the individuals in the attack promise spectacular success. Everton is an unpredictable team, but especially at home.
Arsenal’s inconsistent course does not discourage us at all. The “gunners” remain a team with good potential, which, on a favorable day, can respect any opponent. It even happened with Manchester United (1-0), at Old Trafford, at the last success in the championship obtained by the Londoners. Arsenal made it 0-0 on the previous trip to Goodison Park, but the goals should not be missing this weekend. In the last direct duel, the “gunners” won at home with 3-2, in February of this year. It was a game in which the superiority of the southerners made a difference.
Then, Nketiah (’27), Aubameyang (’33 and ’46) set the final score, in a match in which Everton scored two goals in the first half, through Calvert-Lewin (‘1) and Richarlison (’45 + 4). All four scorers in that game will be on the field again, thinking of as many goals as possible! We know that in the match on Emirates only 9 corners were executed (6-3 for Arsenal), but this time we are waiting for more opportunities and phases at the limit – so implicitly more corner kicks. It is interesting that Aubameyang has the role of “talisman” in front of Everton: his team won all three games in which the Gabonese striker scored in the “candy” goal!
On Saturday, Allan, Delph, Digne and Coleman will not play in the hosts’ camp, while James Rodriguez is uncertain (thigh problems). Arsenal will not have Gabriel, Ozil, Partey, Kolasinac, Martinelli and Nelson in the group. German midfielder Ozil is no longer part of Arteta’s plans. It will be a special match for Iwobi (Everton), who is dueling with his former colleagues from Emirates.
Everton: Pickford – Holgate, Mina, Keane, Godfrey – Doucoure, Allan, Sigurdsson – Iwobi, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
Arsenal: Leno – Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Tierney – Elneny, Ceballos – Willian, Willock, Saka – Aubameyang
Coach: Mikel Arteta
Arsenal have won 5 of the last 7 direct duels with Everton (lost only once);
They scored both teams in 8 of the last 13 direct duels between the two;
Under 2.5 goals have been scored in the last 4 consecutive stages played by Everton;
Arsenal is without a goal scored in 3 of the last 4 away games in the league;
In the last year, no other Premier League team has received more red cards than Arsenal (7);
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / YES @ 1,64
