What: English Premier League
Who: Arsenal vs Everton
When: Wednesday 17th April, 2013, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Emirates Stadium, London, England
Arsenal Look To Pile Pressure On Rivals
Arsenal have a fantastic opportunity to go four points clear of both Chelsea and Tottenham, and heap pressure on rivals who have tough matches coming up at the weekend against Liverpool and Manchester City, if they can beat Everton. Like last year, Arsenal are coming good towards the end of the season and with seven wins in their last eight in the league they are timing their run to perfection.
To some extent, their late season runs are a result of the fact that after selling big names the previous summer, the team is more settled towards the end of the campaign. But Arsenal laboured for long periods before beating Norwich at the weekend and the problem with the Gunners is never knowing when they might implode. Danger never seems far away for Arsene Wenger’s men, whose capacity for self-destruction is unrivalled among their peers. Last year, after a superb run of form to catapult themselves into third, their form stagnated and they stumbled over the finish line. With Chelsea and Tottenham on their heels they are unlikely to get away with that again, and Wenger must ensure his side maintain their momentum until the end of the season.
One of the main positives is that Arsenal are at least showing the kind of spirit they are often accused of lacking. They are grinding out results when not at their best at times and the return of Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott could not be more timely. Since the turn of the year, Arsenal have won four games by just a single goal, and they have now netted 18 times in the closing stages of matches, more than any other side in the Premier League.
Everton Clinging On in Top Four Race
With four wins and a draw in their last five in the Premier League, Everton have arrested a slump which threatened to prematurely end their hopes of a top four finish. David Moyes’ men have done superbly well to keep themselves in contention for a Champions League spot going into the final month of the season. This though, is a huge game – there is a sense that the Toffees really need a positive result at Arsenal to give them the momentum required to force their way into the top four.
The return of Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini is welcome. They both looked bright against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, although the Belgian is still to regain his early season form. But with Victor Anichebe and Kevin Mirallas looking dangerous, there is a real attacking threat about the Toffees.
Everton may mathematically have plenty of reason for optimism in the race for the top four, but with big games away against Liverpool and Chelsea still to come, this matches takes on a greater importance. They have already drawn at Tottenham, but to make it to the Champions League they really need to start taking points, ideally all three, away to their main rivals in the weeks to come. With each failure to do that, the pressure mounts on Everton. That is why this clash is the biggest game for some considerable time for the visitors.
Recent form
Arsenal:
Arsenal 4-1 Reading (30/03; Premier League)
West Bromwich Albion 1-2 Arsenal (06/04; Premier League)
Arsenal 3-1 Norwich (13/04; Premier League)
Everton:
Everton 1-0 Stoke City (30/03; Premier League)
Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Everton (07/04; Premier League)
Everton 2–0 Queens Park Rangers (13/04; Premier League)
Key absences
Arsenal: Tomas Rosicky (doubt); Abou Diaby
Everton: Tony Hibbert (doubt)
Players to watch
Arsenal – Olivier Giroud: Giroud played a key role in Arsenal’s win over Norwich at the weekend. The Frenchman had few chances but his determination and work rate, allied to technical quality, means defenders find him so difficult to deal with. It was his tenacity in attempting to get to a ball in the penalty area which won Arsenal’s penalty and his forceful attempt to meet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late cross which made it 2-1. He then had a hand in setting up the third, even if Theo Walcott was offside when he received the flick from the former Montpellier man. Against a team as competitive and solid as Everton, it may just take a player like Giroud to make the breakthrough.
Everton – Kevin Mirallas: Arsenal’s defensive line has been suspect at times this season and Belgian Mirallas could have a good evening if he can get in behind them. Mirallas, who could have joined Arsenal last summer, can make them regret choosing to ignore him with his skilful but direct running. His calm and precise finishing is another aspect of his play which makes him so dangerous. He can make this a very uncomfortable night for the home team.
Match Prediction
This is arguably a game between the two form sides in the race for fourth place. When Arsenal play Everton it is always a very closely fought game between two sides who are often well matched. Everton’s combination of physical strength but composed passing can frustrate Arsenal and ensure they aren’t able to dominate in the way they do in most games. Arsenal pressed Norwich back on Saturday, but they may have spells on the back foot in this one.
The visitors’ key threat comes down the left, where Leighton Baines and Pienaar link up so well, but there is also a growing relationship between Fellaini and Anichebe which poses another threat. Arsenal’s defence will be kept busy, but they have been more solid recently.
Everton may also have a difficult time when defending. Giroud gives Arsenal the strength up front to make Phil Jagielka less effective than usual, whilst Wilshere and Santi Cazorla can be expected to buzz around intelligently, creating angles for passes that can open up the Everton defence. Wilshere was not 100% fit at the weekend and Arsenal’s play was a bit too slow at times, and it would not be a surprise if the Gunners go into the later stages of the game struggling to find a way past the visitors. But with most of their forwards in good form, from Lukas Podolski to Giroud, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott looking lively at the weekend, Arsenal can find another one of those late, late goals to sneak a vital three points. Arsenal 1-0 Everton.
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