Following our recent Premier League victory that expanded our lead at the top, we have another chance to do so this Saturday (5:30 PM) as Everton visits north London.
We will play before Manchester City faces West Ham United later in the day, allowing us the thrilling opportunity to temporarily extend our lead to 10 points, especially considering Everton’s struggle, with only one win in their last 29 away league matches in N5.
This season, however, the current Toffees have excelled away, with only us earning more points on the road. David Moyes’ squad arrives with positive momentum, aiming to secure another significant victory for their supporters from Merseyside.
EXTRAORDINARY AWAY FORM
Everton arrives in N5 after an 11-day break, perhaps wishing they had played sooner to capitalize on their recent wins against Newcastle United and Burnley, propelling them to eighth place and a potential European berth for the first time since 2017.
Settling into their new stadium, the Toffees have performed better on the road, losing only one of their last 10 away league fixtures and remaining unbeaten in six since a loss to Chelsea in December. Key victories include their matches against Manchester United and Aston Villa, alongside recent wins against Fulham and Newcastle.
MANAGERIAL INSIGHTS
Arteta: “You can sense the atmosphere in the dressing room, the energy, and the collective aim to retain our current position by season’s end, which rests on us. Our focus lies on what we must maintain and enhance together.
Moyes: “Arsenal has done exceptionally well. Mikel has built a great team, presenting them with a great chance to win the league. I question the critics’ perspectives on this.” He adds that their physical style is an essential part of the game, stressing that a focus on perfection can lead to dullness.
TEAM UPDATE
Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard may miss the game against Everton due to injuries. Ben White returned to the bench recently, while Mikel Merino remains a long-term injury concern following foot surgery.
Charly Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman are also likely out with injuries, and Jack Grealish’s stress fracture could see him miss the rest of the season. Nevertheless, Jarred Branthwaite is expected to play despite needing careful management after a long hamstring recovery.
TACTICAL APPROACH
According to Adrian Clarke in the official matchday program, Moyes employs a consistent 4-2-3-1 formation, yielding a well-drilled squad hard to break down. They excel at pressing and creating chaos for opponents, although they face challenges scoring despite having speedy attacking players.
STATS AND HISTORY
We have remained unbeaten in our last six Premier League encounters with Everton, having previously lost four of the five before that. With 14 clean sheets this season, our defense is the strongest since 2005/06, while we’ve also topped the league in set-piece goals.
OFFICIALS
Andy Madley will officiate his first Gunners match of the season, with a history of three wins out of seven encounters. In contrast, he has overseen Everton 22 times, with the Toffees winning nine. This season, he has officiated two Everton games with one victory and one defeat.
