2021-22 Premier League: Week 38 – Arsenal vs Everton

Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates Stadium in a huge clash as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners chase a top-four finish.

Victory would see Arsenal finish fourth if Tottenham lose elsewhere, whilst Everton can finish as high as 15th if Southampton lose away at Southampton.

 

Team News

Embed from Getty Images

Takehiro Tomiyasu is ruled out for Arsenal with a muscle injury.

Rob Holding is available after he missed Arsenal’s defeat at Newcastle through suspension but Kieran Tierney (knee) and Thomas Partey (thigh) remain absent.

Everton could welcome Jarrad Branthwaite back into contention after he missed Thursday’s comeback win against Crystal Palace through suspension.

Yerry Mina (calf) could return but Salomon Rondon (suspension), Fabian Delph (muscle), Nathan Patterson (ankle) and Andros Townsend (knee) remain absent.

 

Stat Attack

• Arsenal have claimed just four points from their last five meetings against Everton (W1, D1, L3).
• Everton have won just one of their last seven visits to Arsenal (W1, L6).
• Victory would see Everton record four consecutive victories over Arsenal for the first time since a four-match winning run between November 1922 – April 1924.
• Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four home matches (W2, L2), in which they scored and conceded six goals apiece.
• Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is looking to net for a third consecutive league match for the first time since August 2021.

 

Prediction

With fourth place now out of their own hands, Arsenal now need to just mentally regroup after two lacklustre away performances against Tottenham and Newcastle, where the Gunners were simply outclassed throughout.

Everton meanwhile showed excellent spirit to fight back to beat Crystal Palace on Thursday evening to secure safety, yet their recent performances have required huge mental and physical efforts so I am intrigued as to how they will now treat this match with nothing to play for.

Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium though haven’t been a good hunting ground for Everton and with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners still chasing fourth, I can see a home win coming if the North London club turn up with an improved performance.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Everton

Result: Arsenal 5-1 Everton