please log in to view this image English Premier League 10th Dec 2011 KO: 15:00 Emirates Stadium please log in to view this image Arsenal take on Everton at the Emirates in this premier league clash. This is a fixture that has been a constant in the history of the premier league. Everton come into this game on the back of a shock defeat to Stoke at home. Just when they were building a bit of form they suffered another defeat. And that has been the story of Everton's season so far. They are unable to sustain any sort of form. Arsenal on the other hand have won six out of their last seven games in the league. The only blip being a 1-1 draw against Fulham at home. The previous Saturday, Arsenal trashed Wigan to notch up their third win in a row away from home. Also Arsenal have had the fortune to rest most of their first team players this midweek in Europe unlike Man Utd,Chelsea and Man City. So the likes of Walcott,Van Persie and Ramsey will be in good shape to face Everton. This game is also the last one before the difficult away fixture to Man City, so a good win here is needed for the confidence that Arsenal will no doubt need going into a game of that size. Also this game sees Mikel Arteta face his former team for the first time since his summer move to the Gunners. David Moyes has had to go into yet another season without spending any real money in the summer transfer window. Everton under the ownership of Bill Kenwright could never match the likes of Arsenal or Man Utd but now they are also falling behind the likes of OPR,Stoke and Aston Villa. Credit must go to Moyes for keeping them at the level they have been when you consider the amount of money he has at his disposal. Everton have not been able to attract any foreign owners for a variety of reasons and one of them being their ground. So for the time being they have to thank their lucky stars that they have a manager like Moyes who can work with the budget he has been given. No money means Everton go another season without any forwards apart from Louis Saha. But goals have also dried up for him and Apostolos Vellios has become their top scorer with three goals. The big forward is a player they got on the cheap from Iraklis in the summer. Another player they got in the summer is Royston Drenthe thanks to a loan deal with Real Madrid. Drenthe was the stand out player in the European Under 21's championship back in 2007. An outstanding talent that has failed to reach his potential. He will be a dangerous player with that left foot and has already scored a stunning goal in the capital this season. Not many teams have their best player at left back but for me Everton do. Leighton Baines has developed into an outstanding player and he will no doubt be trying provide his normal service from left back. Arsenal will want to get back to winning ways at the Emirates after two disappointing results against Fulham in the league and Man City in the league cup. This season, Arsenal have certainly improved their form at home compared to the season before. They have only dropped points in two games at home. Van Persie scored his 50th goal at the Emirates thanks to a brace against Dortmund. No doubt he will be gunning to add to that figure. Last season, Laurent Koscielny scored the winner against Everton and he has moved to right back as cover and has fitted in seamlessly. He will have to be on his games to track the runs of Baines from left back. This will be a massive game for Mikel Arteta against his old team. The Spanish midfielder has settled well in the heart of the Arsenal midfield and has three goals to his name this season. Expect an interesting battle in midfield as the likes of Arteta,Ramsey,Osman and Fellaini compete to win the battle at the heart of the game. We should be in for yet another good game between these two sides. Team News: Wenger Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Everton: Played: 194 Wins: 95 Draws: 41 Losses: 58 For: 318 Against: 238 GD: 80 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton Everton 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 2 Everton Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal Everton 1 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 1 Everton please log in to view this image Arsene Wenger's views on Arteta: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Must have been when they beat us 1-0 at their ground when Andy Johnson scored on the cold and snowy evening.
Thanks for the comments about the thread, SNIAW. One the back four, it was a tight call but I went for Miquel. They have Baines at left back and wanted Kos on the right so he can stop him because as we know Kos is pretty amazing at one on one's Miquel has impressed me this season. After a nervy start against City he did well. Also he adds height to the defence but I suppose so would Djourou. But I would not be too nervous if Johan did start at right back. He has better defenders around him to help out.
I've been impressed with Kos at RB, more so than Djourou to be honest. Vermaelen is best as a CB, even though he can play on the left too - But .. we're a bit short on options at LB at the moment, I think Miquel might have to wait to get ahead of Djourou at RB so I think we might see TV at left back.
Train journey to London this Saturday.I hope i'm not 4 hrs late getting home as was the case after the WBA game
Excellente SuperJackwilshere ! Just hopes Arteta plays well against his former club. just have the feeling he wont have it that easy against them.
It won't be easy, they do have a pretty good midfield. Fellaini had an outstanding game the last time Everton came to the Emirates.
Why would Djourou play on the left? TV and Miquel are surely the two options for LB? We could move Djourou to RB and bring Kos back in the middle.
I think the back four against Everton will look like these Djourou-----Kosc---Per Met------Verm Its safer to play the reliable Vermalean on the left than miquel.
