Everton versus Arsenal: midweek preview « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

By Phil Gregory

Arsenal are off to Goodison Park for our midweek game, after a weekend devoid of Gooner-related activity. This probably went in our favour despite our excellent recent run of performances, with tired legs benefitting from a bit of an extra breather, those carrying knocks better rested and the chance for some of our injured players to get back in contention for the match day squad.

Indeed, Everton were in action at the weekend perhaps giving us a slight edge in that regard. We’re not talking about terrible fixture congestion here for the Toffees, with a rest from Saturday to Wednesday perfectly reasonable, but it can’t hurt Arsenal’s chances going into the game.

In regards to injuries, the squad is slowly edging back to health. Santos was on the bench recently and Wenger has confirmed he is fully fit and ready to play, while Diaby made a return for the reserves versus Liverpool. Wilshere seems to be fit with the question mark remaining over when he will return to match fitness: given the length of his absence to date, it could be some time. Long term absentees Mertesacker and Frimpong remain out, however young midfielder Francis Coquelin should be back in the near term.

Szcznesy

Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs

Song Arteta

Rosicky

Walcott Van Persie Chamberlain

Don’t change it if it isn’t broken and, with the way recent results have been, the Arsenal first eleven is certainly not broken. With a nice breather between this game and the last, I can see no reason why any member of the previous eleven wouldn’t keep their place for what is likely to be a tricky tie up at Goodison Park.

Everton don’t have too many men injured, with the biggest losses being wide player Coleman and the defensively minded Jack Rodwell. Everton’s height and aerial ability in midfield could cause us problems in contesting the long balls, with the likes of Fellaini and Cahill likely to dominate Arteta and Rosicky in the air. As ever with Arsenal, the best course of action will be to keep it on the ground and play it out from the back: Everton may look to press from the front to tempt us into the long ball however. Arsenal will need to be at their fluent best to play around any such pressure, though I’d certainly back the likes of Arteta, Song and Rosicky to deal with such an approach.

Mikel Arteta’s first return to Goodison will be interesting, given his lengthy service there. The slightly last minute nature of his departure may not have pleased Everton fans, but I imagine that largely came down to Arsenal’s late approach than any inconsiderately timed desire to leave on the part of Mikel. Hopefully Arteta gets a reception his lengthy and committed service to Everton deserves but if not, the best way to silence fans is with a performance!

Clearly then this game is a tough one, everybody knows Everton are a solid, committed side. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if we drew here as it is a fairly tough fixture, but a win would do fantastic things for our chances of overhauling Spurs. Any dropped points could be made up in the remaining games, but allowing Spurs to extend the lead between us once again – assuming they win their game at home versus Stoke – would take off some of the pressure that has been building on them.

I’m going to go for a narrow 1-0 to the Arsenal. Hopefully we score early and it’s not too nail-biting: I can’t get to a screen for this one as I’ll be travelling back from London so I don’t fancy an evening of anxious live text refreshing! Enjoy the game Gooners.