Arsenal will make the dreaded trip to Goodison Park this weekend as they take on Everton. The Toffees earned their first point of the year in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United. Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Manchester United in a stunning 3-1 victory.
Preview (Everton vs. Arsenal)
When it comes to goalkeeping comebacks, Jordan Pickford may have done it better than anybody else during Everton’s thrilling match against Sheffield United, in which Abdoulaye Doucoure gave the Toffees their first goal of the season before a superb Cameron Archer equalizer. After Archer’s shot hit the post, hit Pickford in the back, and bounced over the line. The Blades’ new number nine celebrated the most unfortunate of Pickford’s own goals. However, Arnaut Danjuma had leveled the score for the visitors. Pickford pulled off an incredible double save on Oli McBurnie with seconds remaining.
Good thing too, since the goalkeeper’s late efforts were crucial in keeping a point for Everton, who are now officially off to a bad start for the 2023–24 season after three straight defeats to Fulham, Aston Villa, and Wolverhampton Wanderers without ever bulging the net. With only two goals, Sean Dyche’s club has the worst offensive record in the league along with the Hatters. They remain below the goal line in 18th place, just above Luton Town and Burnley.
If they hope to prolong the Gunners’ misery on Merseyside, they will need history on their side. For the second time in 2023 at the Emirates, Arsenal held off until the very end of the game to send their ardent fans into unrestrained excitement as Arteta’s team made up for a dismal 2-2 home stalemate with Fulham by defeating old rivals Manchester United in North London. As the time ran out in extra time, Declan Rice’s deflected shot and Gabriel Jesus’s breakaway goal helped a tenacious Arsenal come out on top of the scoreline. However, the returning Gabriel Magalhaes just about managed to catch his South American colleague offside.
Team News
Prior to the break, Everton’s medical staff had to work extra hours, and the Toffees lost James Tarkowski to a facial injury near the end of their game against Sheffield United. However, there is optimism that the former Burnley player, who scored the game-winning goal against Arsenal in February, will be okay to play this weekend alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin. That cannot be said of Dele Alli (groin), Jack Harrison (hip), or Seamus Coleman (knee), while Jarrad Branthwaite, who withdrew from England Under-21 duties last month, is anticipated to recover from his own groin injury in time for Arteta’s soldiers to arrive.
None of Youssef Chermiti (groin), Andre Gomes (calf), Lewis Dobbin (knock), or Michael Keane (knock) should start. Despite all of them appearing to have fought back from their worries. With just Thomas Partey (groin), Jurrien Timber (ACL), and Mohamed Elneny (knee) out of the lineup following the international break, Arsenal is fortunate to have a very short injury list. However, the former is now back in training. Gabriel Magalhaes’ early exit on his Brazil debut gave the Gunners a momentary scare during the break. The center-back recovered quickly and will soon join Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus at London Colney. They may require quick evaluations after adjusting to British time zones.
The Ballon d’Or nominee Bukayo Saka has apparently been dealing with an Achilles issue for months. There is no evidence to suggest that he won’t be available on Sunday. Eddie Nketiah should lead the attack despite not playing for England during the international break. The Gunners’ first Champions League match in more than six years comes next week, and it would be simple for them to lose focus, but Arteta’s team played better against Manchester United.
Everton 0 – 2 Arsenal
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