After an impressive start to their Europa League campaign, Arsenal will turn their attention to the Premier League this week. The 4-2 victory over Vorskla should give them confidence going into the next few games, but they face a tricky test this week when they welcome Everton to the Emirates on Sunday. The Toffees are fresh from a loss to West Ham United but have been impressive in patches this season.
Everton are not an easy team to beat, but the Gunners have won each of their last three leagues games with relative ease and would hope for something similar this week as well. Unai Emery should settle for nothing less than three points and here is the predicted lineup he might field for this tie:
Team News:
In early team news, Emery is still without the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Carl Jenkinson, Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, all of whom are long-term absentees. Aaron Ramsey was not a part of the team that beat Vorskla but should be fit enough for this game on Sunday. Lucas Torreira picked up a knock on Thursday and would be assessed ahead of this tie.
Expected lineup (4-2-3-1):
Defence:
Bernd Leno made his much-awaited debut in the Europa League earlier this week, but with the League Cup tie against Brentford next week looming large, he could be pushed to the bench, giving Petr Cech another start under the bar for Arsenal. Shkodran Mustafi was rested against Vorskla and should be fresh from this weekend. He could start alongside Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who would play his third game in just eight days.
Hector Bellerin was an unused substitute in the Europa League game. He should be back at right-back in this game but will have a tough task keeping Richarlison in check on the wing. Nacho Monreal has to start again at left-back due to lack of options for Emery in that position.
Midfield:
Granit Xhaka has added a different dimension to his game under Emery and could be crucial for his side against Everton. Mattéo Guendouzi has shown his quality in patches and only came off the bench on Thursday. He could start this game alongside Xhaka.
Mesut Ozil came off the bench and scored against Vorskla on Thursday. That will do his confidence a world of good, and he could be the danger man for Everton in this tie. Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has been used on the flanks in the last couple of games by Emery. He started in the mid-week as well, picking up a brace and could be the man to watch out for in this game. Aaron Ramsey should be back in action and will play in a free-floating no.10 role as he did in the last match against Newcastle United.
Attack:
Alexandre Lacazette had nothing to do in the Europa League tie earlier this week. But he has been lethal in front of goal. He and Aubameyang would look to exploit the lack of experience between Mason Holgate and Jonjoe Kenny, on Everton’s right flank at the back.
This is how they might line up:
