Everton travel to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Saturday with their formidable away record and European ambitions firmly in focus.
Arsenal can move ten points clear at the top of the Premier League table tonight if they beat Everton at the Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side have a seven-point advantage over Manchester City heading into the weekend, with City facing West Ham later on Saturday.
But the Gunners will have their work cut out against an Everton side boasting one of the best away records in the division. David Moyes’ men are unbeaten on the road since December, collecting 24 points away from home with only Arsenal and Chelsea having better away records this campaign.
Team News: Who’s in and who’s out
For Everton, veteran defender Seamus Coleman is close to a return after a minor knock but this game may come too soon. Carlos Alcaraz’s participation is in doubt, while Jack Grealish is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a stress fracture.
Jarrad Branthwaite missed the recent warm-weather training camp in Portugal, with Everton carefully managing his minutes after a long-term hamstring injury. However, Moyes is optimistic that the centre-back will be fit and available for the visit to the Emirates.
Arsenal could welcome Leandro Trossard back into the squad after the forward sat out Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Trossard trained with the squad on Tuesday but did not feel right to feature in Germany. Martin Odegaard is expected to remain sidelined along with Mikel Merino, while Noni Madueke could be rewarded for an impressive cameo off the bench against Leverkusen with a start.
The key battle and match stats
The Toffees have been excellent on the road and are on a six-match unbeaten run currently. They’ve collected 24 points away from home, with only Arsenal and Chelsea having a better record this campaign.
Arsenal have scored more set-piece goals than any other side in the Premier League this season – 24 including penalties. However, no team has shipped fewer goals from set-piece situations than Everton, with eight goals from set pieces.
The head-to-head record makes for stark reading. Arsenal are unbeaten against Everton in six matches, though they were held to a goalless draw in the corresponding fixture last season. Everton have won just one of their last 29 away Premier League games against Arsenal, a 1-0 victory in April 2021.
Where to watch and predictions
The match kicks off at 5.30 pm GMT tonight, Saturday, March 14, at the Emirates Stadium. In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports, with coverage starting at 5 pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
Everton’s predicted starting lineup: Jordan Pickford; Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko; James Garner, Idrissa Gana Gueye; Dwight McNeil, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Iliman Ndiaye; Thierno Barry.
- Arsenal vs Everton: Team news, predictions, where to watch
- Arsenal vs Everton: Can David Moyes mastermind another upset
- Everton interested in Watford wonderkid Othmane Maamma after rapid rise
- Everton target former Chelsea midfielder as key target after Torino rise
- David Moyes desperate to tie Vitalii Mykolenko to new deal, no agreement yet
