Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates Stadium in Friday Night Football in a huge clash in the race for Europa League qualification.
Victory would see Arsenal leapfrog Everton on goal difference and climb to eighth, whereas Carlos Ancelotti’s Toffees can pull a six point gap on their hosts with a win.
Team News
Alexandre Lacazette is ruled out for Arsenal after suffering a hamstring injury in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against London rivals – Fulham.
Martin Odegaard (ankle) is a doubt but David Luiz, Kieran Tierney (both knee) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (illness) remain ruled out.
Everton could welcome back Dominic Calvert-Lewin after the English striker missed their last two matches with an adductor injury.
Andre Gomes (hamstring), Yerry Mina (muscle), Fabian Delph (tendon) and Bernard (unspecified) are also in contention to feature if fully fit.
Abdoulaye Doucoure (foot) and Jean-Philippe Gbamin (knee) are still absent
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have lost just two of their last eight meetings against Everton (W5, D1, L1).
- Everton have failed to win any of their last 24 league trips to Arsenal (D4, L20).
- Both teams have scored in four of their last five meetings at the Emirates Stadium, with the only exception being a 2-0 win for Arsenal in September 2018.
- Everton’s goalless draw at Brighton earlier this month was their first goalless away draw in 33 matches since a goalless draw at Crystal Palace in August 2019.
- Just three of Lacazette’s 13 league goals for Arsenal this season have come at the Emirates Stadium.
Prediction
Arsenal come into this game really needing a win after a lacklustre draw last weekend against Fulham, in which the Gunners lacked end product despite looking dominant throughout and defeat here would pile further pressure on their Europa League semi.
Everton meanwhile delivered a largely organised display against Tottenham with strong threat across the pitch, yet lapses in defensive focus and marking cost them a win so they need to iron out those errors if are to quickly reignite their fading top four hopes.
This fixture however hasn’t been particularly kind to Everton over recent decades but with Aubameyang, Lacazette and Tierney absent for Arsenal, this is the Toffees’ best chance at a win and if they play like they did last week then they could do it.
Prediction: Arsenal 1-2 Everton
Result: Arsenal 0-1 Everton
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