Arsenal vs Everton Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Arsenal:
Ryan; Bellerin, Holding, Gabriel, Xhaka; Thomas, Ceballos; Pepe, Smith Rowe, Saka; Aubameyang
Everton:
Pickford; Keane, Godfrey, Holgate; Coleman, Davies, Allan, Digne; Rodriguez; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin
Arsenal welcome the top-four pretenders Everton at the Emirats Stadium on Friday evening. The Gunners are sitting on the 9th place with 46 points,. They are three points behind their actual opponents - Everton have 49. Considering the superior goal difference, Arsenal could overtake the 8th place, at least temporary because the Toffees have a match in hand. Arteta's players are in solid form, they have two victories and one draw on the last three matches across all competitions. First they beat Sheffield United with 3:0. Alexandre Lacazette scored a brace, while Martinelli also found the back of the net. After that Arsenal secured another victory, this time in UEFA Europa League. The North London outfit were in complicated situation after playing just 1:1 with Slavia Prague at the Emirats. However, they showed their class and secured a high 4:0 win in Czech Republic. Arteta's players produced one of their best performance of the season and secured the progress. Lacazette scored another brace, while Pepe and Saka also put their names on the scoring list. They will face Spanish side Villarreal in the semi-finals. What is interesting, Villarreal are managed by the former Arsenal boss Unai Emery. The players confidence was very high after these two straight victories, so everybody was expecting an easy three points against relegation-candidates Fulham on Sunday. But it wasn't that way, it was just the opposite. Arsenal dropped two points playing an 1:1 draw. Arteta has some players unavailable for this match. David Luiz and Kieran Tierney are out injured, as well as Alexandre Lacazette. On the positive note, Martin Odegaard is ready after overcoming a foot injury. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was hospitalized with malaria, may recover in time for this match.
As I already wrote above, Everton are one place and three points ahead of Arsenal. The Toffees also have a match in hand, so the gap with the fourth-placed Chelsea could be reduced to only three points. This is the reason why I expect Everton's players to enter the match fully motivated. But the actual form isn't at desired level, they have no win on the last five league games. Everton lost to Chelsea and Burnley, while shared the points on the last three matches. The draws with Brighton and Crystal Palace means they dropped four important points, only the last weekend's draw against Tottenham could be evaluated as good result. One thing is clear, Everton must go for victory here. Ancelotti admitted his dreams about the Champions League, but three points from this game are essential. The trip to the Emirats is very tough - Everton have no win on the last 24 Premier League games at the Emirats, losing 20 of them. Everton. With seven matches to go, Everton have a decent chance to secure Top-4 finish, but must obtain a victory here. Gylfi Sigurdsson is in good form, he was involved in five goals in his past seven Premier League appearances. Ancelotti has some injury worries ahead of this match. Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are still sidelined, but most of the other have recovered, including the key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. In adittion, Andre Gomes, Fabian Delph, Yerry Mina and Bernard are also available.
Arsenal vs Everton Prediction:
This will be the 200th top-flight meeting between Arsenal and Everton. The Gunners are more successful and they are chasing the 99th victory. However, the Toffees will also go for three points. Everton won the reverse fixture in December and they are looking for the first league double since the season 1985/86. It is hard to predict the winners, but I think there will be at least three goals.
Arsenal vs Everton Pick: Over 2.5 goals @ 2.10
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