What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Arsenal
When: Wednesday, 28th November, 2012, at 19:45 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Early Season Promise Fizzling Out for Everton
Everton and West Brom were the two pleasant surprises of the opening weeks of the new season. But whilst the Baggies continue to defy pre-season predictions, Everton have stumbled. Having been lauded as potential top four material courtesy of a good start to the season for the first time in years, the Toffees have now won just one in seven. The weekend draw with Norwich was typical of their recent form, failing to take advantage of possession and chances to put their opponents to the sword.
David Moyes’ men have continued to enjoy good possession through their poor spell of late, but have not played the same free flowing football that they were at the start of the season. Nikica Jelavic has not been receiving the service he usually expects, Steven Pienaar’s form has dropped and Leighton Baines has been less influential than usual. In many games recently, Everton have been indebted to Marouane Fellaini, who has won them many points with his charges forward from midfield and well taken goals.
Now Everton host Arsenal, who are just a point behind the Merseyside club, and if the home team have genuine Champions League aspirations, this is a pivotal game against direct rivals for a top four spot. And although Moyes deserves credit for Everton’s start to the campaign, they have a more testing run of games coming up starting with the Gunners; Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur come next.
What are the standout bets in Everton v Arsenal? Read our betting preview and find out!
Testing Times for Arsene Wenger
Arsenal continue to send mixed signals. One week the Gunners give fans reasons for optimism, the next pessimism returns to the team’s faithful. The draw at Aston Villa on Saturday was in many ways a predictable end to what had been a promising week, following wins over Tottenham and Montpellier. Wenger takes his side to Goodison Park having scored just once away from home in the Premier League since victory at West Ham at the start of October.
Much like Everton, the opening weeks of the season were encouraging for Arsenal, but early promise has fizzled out into familiar inconsistency. The turn in fortunes has also coincided with a loss of form from Spanish duo Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla. The pair were rampant in the early weeks of the campaign, but have found their space increasingly restricted in the weeks since the October international break.
Arsenal’s inconsistency is also reflected in the contrasting fortunes for their defence and attack. The start of the season saw the defence performing at a level not seen for many a year, while the attack toiled and looked more toothless than in recent campaigns. Yet in recent weeks the goals have been flowing more steadily, with Lukas Podolski, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud all finding their scoring boots, and the defence ‘enjoying’ a poor spell. For Wenger, the challenge now is finding the right balance to get some consistency back into his team.
Recent form
Everton:
Everton 2-1 Sunderland (10/11; Premier League)
Reading 2-1 Everton (17/11; Premier League)
Everton 1-1 Norwich (24/11; Premier League)
Arsenal:
Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham (17/11; Premier League)
Arsenal 2-0 Montpellier (21/11; Champions League)
Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal (24/11; Premier League
Key absences
Everton: Victor Anichebe (doubt); Kevin Mirallas (doubt); Seamus Coleman; Darron Gibson; Phil Neville
Arsenal: Theo Walcott (doubt); Abou Diaby; Tomas Rosicky; Andre Santos
Players to watch
Everton – Marouane Fellaini: The distinctive Belgian is a defender’s nightmare. Physically strong enough to hold his own against any opponent, and then technically good enough to play a killer pass or find a neat finish, Fellaini has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season. Coming back from suspension, Everton will look to him in particular for inspiration in this game and to continue a run of three goals in his last three games.
Arsenal – Olivier Giroud: Giroud has grown into his role as the figurehead at the heart of the Arsenal attack in recent weeks. He was not at his best against Aston Villa, but five goals in seven games shows that he is settling into his new role. Giroud is a very consistent player, as well as hard working; however it is easy to underestimate his all-round game. Much attention has been paid to the Frenchman’s physical qualities and aerial strength, but Giroud is adept with both feet and has surprisingly good agility. His movement and strength can create chances for both himself and his team-mates, and that will be particularly important against a team as well organised and physically strong as Everton.
Match Prediction
Arsenal have rediscovered their passing game in recent weeks and will look to impose themselves on Everton, and should have Jack Wilshere back in the starting eleven after he was rested at Aston Villa. Both they and the hosts will enjoy spells of possession and the key to this match could be who makes the better use of these.
Everton match physicality with technique and that makes them such difficult opponents. The passing of Leon Osman and Pienaar can find holes in the Arsenal defence and if Jelavic rediscovers his touch in front of goal the Toffees can really hurt the North Londoners. Much will depend on how Arsenal’s centre backs perform. Per Mertesacker has been excellent this season, but captain Thomas Vermaelen has endured a poor campaign thus far. The real strength of both of these teams lies in the middle third of the pitch, with profligate attacks a feature of both Moyes’ and Wenger’s sides.
Goodison Park is one of the toughest grounds to go to in the Premier League, but Arsenal have a good record there, having won on their last three visits. In fact, Arsenal have not lost a league game on Merseyside since March 2007. But these two teams are more evenly matched than at any point during that period of time and Everton have not lost at home this season. Both have made a habit of drawing games as well this year, all of which points to a score draw. Everton 1-1 Arsenal.
What are the standout bets in Everton v Arsenal? Read our betting preview and find out!
