Premier League 2022-23: Everton vs Arsenal: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Gunners lead the English league as they face Merseyside club struggling in the relegation battle.

On Saturday night, a stranded Everton hosts the high-flying Arsenal at Goodison Park for a mouth-watering clash as we head into Matchday 22 of the Premier League.

Having returned to management with Everton, the next task for Sean Dyche is to maintain the Toffees’ status. As one of only six clubs to have been ever-present in the Premier League. Everton lies 19th on 15 points from 20 matches, level with bottom-placed Southampton but only two points from safety. A lack of goals and creativity have been major factors in Everton’s struggles this season. They have scored 15 goals in their 20 PL matches. Only Wolverhampton Wanderers, with 12, have scored fewer in the competition this season. Jarrod Bowen led them to more misery as their trip to London Stadium was a disappointing one. Yet again with fellow relegation strugglers West ham running out 2-0 victors over them. Although Everton can take heart from the fact that they have beaten Arsenal in three of their last four league meetings.

Arsenal on the other hand have been phenomenal this season and are showing no signs of slowing down. The addition of Leandro Trossard from Brighton and Jorginho from Chelsea has further added some experience to their ranks. Which they direly needed heading into the most crucial point of the season.

Mikel Arteta has emphasized an attacking style of football and his rewards are clearly portrayed with them now leading the league by 5 points having played a game less than 2nd placed Manchester City. Although they bowed out of the FA Cup after a 1-0 loss to Manchester City courtesy of Nathan Ake. They are yet to face this City twice in the league which might be a turning factor by the end of the season. But they have been relentless against their Merseyside opponents in recent times and have scored at least 5 goals on five separate occasions in Premier League against Everton.

Kick-off: Saturday, 04-02-2023, 06:00 pm (IST), 12:30 pm (GMT)

Everton form (all competition): L-L-L-L-D

Arsenal form (all competition): L-W-W-W-D

Player to watch

Everton

Demarai Gray

Gray has always been a quick and direct winger. However, the overall speed of his play in possession in terms of making decisions has been impressive. He regularly plays passes off of one or two touches, so moves possession on quickly. The departure of Anthony Gordon means that Dyche will have to bank on him heavily if they are to survive this term. He happens to be the joint-highest goal scorer for Everton this season with Anthony Gordon having 3 goals apiece.

Arsenal

Martin Odegaard

When higher up the pitch, Odegaard consistently looks to receive between the lines, using his half-turned body shape to play forward as often as possible after receiving. When a wide forward makes a diagonal run in behind, he is adept at sliding through balls in behind from a central position. The most important playmaker for Arsenal, he must be rooting for this fixture to thread in balls to his teammates.

Match facts

• Everton have just won three of their 44 Premier League games against teams starting the day at the top of the table (D9, L32).
• Arsenal have still not beaten Everton away in their last four attempts, a stretch dating back to October 2017.
• Everton have only managed to keep 4 clean sheets this season while Arsenal have managed to keep 9.

Injury and team news

Dyche will be without Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson who are both out due to knee injuries and are expected to return Mid-February. Along with James Garner (Back) and Ben Godfrey’s (Knee Sprain) place is still in doubt. Former Burnley star Dwight McNeil may get a recall to the line-up but Everton’s thin squad makes serious personnel changes unlikely. A reunion of Tarkowski, Keane and Dyche means that a probable pairing of them in the backline is expected ahead of this fixture which might mean that Yerry Mina might give the way. Anthony Gordon paved his way to Newcastle United on deadline day which means that a start for Dominic Calvert Lewin is rest assured.

Arsenal have not shuffled their team much in recent weeks but a start for Jorginho is highly expected if Thomas Partey is not able to overcome the knock on the rib he suffered against Manchester City in FA Cup. Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny are expected to miss out while Cedric Soares and Albert Sambi Lokonga left on deadline day.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches: 219

Everton: 64

Draws: 46

Arsenal: 109

Predicted lineup

Everton predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Pickford: Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko: Gueye, Onana: Iwobi, Gray, Mcneil: Calvert-Lewin

Arsenal predicted lineup (4-3-3):

Ramsdale: White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko: Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka: Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli

Prediction

Arsenal have been relentless this season and it is highly unlikely that they will be dropping points away on road against a relegation-threatened side who have been shipping in goals continuously without showing up much in return for it. Although Dyche is a master at grinding results out in these kinds of fixtures, we are predicting a good day at the office for Arteta’s men.

Prediction:  Everton 0-3 Arsenal

Telecast

India- Star Sports Select 1, Star Sports Select 2 and Hotstar

USA- NBC Network Television

UK- BT Sport

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