Arsenal seek to secure the festive top spot of 2025-26 Premier League in a tricky away test at Everton.
Victory could lift Everton as high as fifth if Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Sunderland all lose elsewhere, whilst Arsenal could start this match needing a win to return to the summit if Manchester City win earlier in the day.
Team News
Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are unavailable for Everton due to international duty for Senegal at Africa Cup of Nations.
Merlin Rohl (hernia) and Jack Grealish (knock) are set to be fit for selection but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is ruled out after he suffered a hamstring injury in their 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Seamus Coleman and Jarrad Branthwaite (both hamstring) remain sidelined.
Arsenal will be without Ben White for the festive fortnight due to a hamstring injury.
Riccardo Calafiori is back in contention after he missed the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Wolves due to suspension.
Max Dowman, Cristhian Mosquera (both ankle), Gabriel (adductor) and Kai Havertz (knee) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Everton host Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday 20 December at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Everton are winless in their last five league meetings against Arsenal (D2, L3).
- Arsenal have won just one of their last seven trips to Everton (W1, D2, L4), although this is their first trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium.
- Everton haven’t drawn three consecutive matches against Arsenal since November 2012 – December 2013.
- Everton have claimed seven points in four home games against London-based opposition this season (W2, D1, L1).
- No Arsenal player this season has created more successful short passes in the top flight than Declan Rice (824).
Prediction
Sat firmly in mid-table, Everton have little fear coming into this game because they did play well at Chelsea but small defensive errors and a lack of clinical touches cost them, yet they now have to hope that Grealish is fit because they already will struggle without Ndiaye, Gueye and Dewsbury-Hall.
Arsenal meanwhile were off-colour in terms of their usual sharp finishing touches against Wolves and frankly were lucky that two own-goals won them the game, amidst poor marking of Wolves’ equaliser, so improvement is needed if want to sit top at Christmas.
Although Goodison Park wasn’t exactly a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent seasons, this is a reset at Everton’s new ground for them but they will need to be much better to beat a team which is without some quality players.
Prediction: Everton 0-2 Arsenal
Result: Everton 0-1 Arsenal