Arsenal will get yet another chance to go top of the table on Tuesday when they visit Goodison Park to play Everton in an early midweek clash. The Gunners will extend their unbeaten run to 15 games if they manage a win or a draw on Tuesday and will be in advantageous position before they visit the Etihad stadium to face Manchester City.
Everton, on the other hand, are going through a very rough patch at the moment and a slip-up here would surely throw them out of the top half of the table.
Team News
Everton
Everton dearly missed the services of Yannick Bolasie on the right wing as Deulofeu struggled to make an impact against Watford. A good news for them is that Matthew Pennington is back in the training and he could be called into action considering how bad the Everton defence has been. Apart from that. The Toffees more or less have a fit first team to face the Gunners.
Arsenal
Arsenal will be without their summer recruitment, Shkodran Mustafi after the Germany international was hauled off in the first half of the victory over Stoke with a hamstring injury. Gabriel Paulista should be replacing him at the centre-back position. Mustafi will be out for a minimum of 21 days, as revealed by Wenger. Ramsey isn’t fit for the match yet.
Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Mathieu Debuchy remain sidelined until the New Year. However, the big news will be the return of Hector Bellerin. The Spaniard had a great game after he came on replacing Mustafi and is expected to start in the Everton game.
Predicted Lineups
Everton starting XI: Stekelenburg, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Baines, Gueye, Barry, Deulofeu, McCarthy, Barkley, Lukaku
Arsenal starting XI: Cech, Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Coquelin, Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez
Key Players
Everton- Romelu Lukaku has been Everton’s only goal scorer at the moment. Against Watford, it was only the Belgian who looked a threat till the end, and even against Arsenal, he will the biggest concern for the likes of Koscielny and Gabriel Paulista. Barkley didn’t start against Watford and is expected to start this time.
Arsenal- Every forward is contributing this season for the Gunners. Even Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain has bagged an assist and a goal in his last two league matches. Whether it is Sanchez, Walcott, Ozil or Chamberlain, Arsenal are enjoying an overall performance and all could be a big threat to the Toffees defence, who have conceded cheaply this season so far.
Odds
Everton @ 31/10
Draw @ 27/10
Arsenal @ 11/20
