Arsenal v Everton – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Arsenal host Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Friday night as eighth faces ninth in the Premier League. The Toffees have been in awful form and have a wrath of injuries to deal with but they still have a chance of challenging for a top four finish. Arsenal’s season now rests on trying to win the Europa League. The first meeting between these sides saw a 2-1 win for Everton at Goodison Park in December.

Arsenal Form

Arsenal’s form is difficult to pin down. They have generally been in disappointing league form and have had a couple of bad performances in the Europa League but the side is also finally looking more free flowing under Mikel Arteta. Their last nine matches have seen them register 2.0 Expected Goals or more on five occasions having managed that just four times in the previous 23 matches.

Since losing to Man City in February, Arsenal have won six of their last 12 matches with four draws and two losses. Half of those matches have seen three or more goals scored. They have lost just one of their last seven in the league but conceded three goals to each of West Ham (3-3 draw) and Liverpool (3-0 home defeat). They also needed a 97th minute goal to rescue a point against Fulham at home in their most recent match.

Arsenal Team News

Mikel Arteta has several injuries to contend with for this match. Kieran Tierney’s season is over at left back, whilst David Luiz is also absent in defence. Granit Xhaka could deputise at left back whilst Cedric Soares is another option.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are both expected to be missing up front with Malaria and a hamstring strain respectively. Gabriel Martinelli could lead the line whilst Eddie Nketiah is another option after scoring against Fulham. This match is also expected to come too soon for Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal Motivation

After beating West Brom in early March, Everton sat fifth on the table, just three points off fourth placed Chelsea. Ancelotti’s side has had a disastrous run of form since then. A 2-0 away defeat to Chelsea and 2-1 home loss to Burnley followed. They were then knocked out of the FA Cup by Man City.

Those three consecutive defeats have been followed by three draws in a row which included conceding late equalisers in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, both at home.

Everton Form

After beating West Brom in early March, Everton sat fifth on the table, just three points off fourth placed Chelsea. Ancelotti’s side has had a disastrous run of form since then. A 2-0 away defeat to Chelsea and 2-1 home loss to Burnley followed. They were then knocked out of the FA Cup by Man City.

Those three consecutive defeats have been followed by three draws in a row which included conceding late equalisers in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace and a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, both at home.

Everton Team News

Carlo Ancelotti is beset by injuries. In midfield, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Jean-Philippe Gbamin are definitely out and both Andre Gomes and Fabian Delph are touch-and-go to be involved. Yerry Mina is still struggling with a groin problem at centre back and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has a groin problem in attack and is doubtful.

For the last match, Carlo Ancelotti had only Seamus Coleman and Josh King as senior players on the bench and the squad is really thin right now.

Everton Motivation

Everton seem to have hit a wall at the wrong time. They are six points off the top four places and in their current form, they have no chance of getting close to the Champions League race. However, they have a match in hand a win here means they are suddenly back in the hunt.

For this match, they will likely set up defensively and play on the counter attack. That has worked for them in the big matches this season. Ancelotti will play to nick a win but could settle for a draw too and may add an extra defender to protect a point in the second half.

Key Stats

Arsenal have won 2 of their last 7 matches

Arsenal have kept 1 clean sheet in their last 11 PL matches

Arsenal have won 1 of their last 4 home PL matches

Everton have won none of their last 6 matches (L3, D3)

Everton have failed to score in 3 of their last 6 matches

Everton have seen under 2.5 goals in 7 of their last 9 matches

Prediction

This match is between two inconsistent sides who are below their best right now and missing some key players. Any of the three outcomes is possible but a draw is perhaps the most likely result with a shock Everton win perhaps worth considering too.