Happy Matchday Gooners!! Our game-in-hand is finally here and it’s a crucial one, as all our matches are at this point. It has been three and a half weeks since our 1-0 loss to them at Goodison Park on an extremely frustrating day for Arsenal. Everton have been a mess this season, but we caught them on their new manager bounce day with Dyche’s debut and couldn’t unlock their low block. Today is a new day and the fact that we’re back at the Emirates will only help.
When it comes to the lineup, I am expecting the following:
Turner
White-Saliba-Gabriel-Zinchenko
Partey-Xhaka
Saka-Odegaard-Martinelli
Trossard
While I think you could look at potential rotations at RB with Tomiyasu and LB with Tierney, this is a must-win match and my bet is on Arteta approaching this with our best defenders. As for midfield, I think Partey comes back in after being able to come on towards the end at the weekend. There have been calls for Vieira to come in for Xhaka from the start, and while I wouldn’t be overly surprised if it happened I ultimately don’t think Arteta is going to pull that trigger yet. With that said, a Sean Dyche team in a low block could justify a more creative player like Fabio Vieira rather than the calm, control of a Granit Xhaka. Let’s see what happens, but I’m expecting him to lean to the experienced player with a view to bring Vieira on later. In that same vein, I am expecting Leandro Trossard to keep his place rather than for Eddie Nketiah to come back in. Trossard was fantastic at the weekend and was part of our biggest chances. With Everton putting 11 behind the ball with their big defenders, the shiftiness and versatility of Trossard just strikes me as a more effective option to make the opponent uncomfortable and force them to play in ways they don’t necessarily want to. Yet again, I wouldn’t be shocked if Eddie came back in, but I’m thinking it’s Trossard’s spot to lose right now the way he’s performing.
Since beating us, Everton have lost to Liverpool 2-0, beaten Leeds 1-0 and lost to Villa 0-2. They’ve been without Dominic Calvert-Lewin since their match against us and he is confirmed to not be fit in time for today. They’ll also be without Nathan Patterson and Andros Townsend, while James Garner is likely be fit enough to make the bench. I’m expecting their lineup to look something like:
Pickford
Mykolenko-Tarkowski-Coady-Coleman
Onana-Gueye-Doucoure
McNeil-Gray-Iwobi
Mykolenko was lucky in our last match not to be booked earlier, as he had a number of yellow card offenses/accumulation of fouls on Saka that on another day should have led to him walking more a tight rope with the ref. Coleman turned back the clock and shut down an out-of-form Martinelli. Our Brazilian will surely be looking for revenge against him and his goal at the weekend should be a much-needed, timely confidence boost. Onana was phenomenal in midfield for them and looks to be a player. We’ve been linked with him and seemingly for good reason. Their wingers can produce moments, but they really aren’t players who should worry us too much given the quality of our defenders. Gray has shown he can produce some brilliant finishes, but is also a player we should handle as long as we stay organized.
Should the opportunity present itself hopefully we can win and gloat in Neil Maupay’s annoying face. Just a vile, annoying footballer who spends his time winding people up since he can’t produce anything positive with his feet.
That’s all for now. Kickoff can’t come soon enough, as these nerves aren’t going anywhere. A huge match we need to take all three points from.
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Absolute Arsenal 
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