please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal welcome Everton to the Emirates on Tuesday night, as both teams do battle in a crucial match that could go a long way in deciding which clubs end up in those Champions League places. Arsenal and Everton are two of the most inform teams in the league, with the Gunners winning five of their last six leagues games and Everton winning four of their last six games in the Premier League. Arsenal’s latest win came against Norwich City at the Emirates and Arsenal were made to work for those vital three points. The first half was a dull affair, with Norwich frustrating Arsenal. And in the second half they stunned Arsenal by taking the lead. Heading into the final ten minutes with Norwich still leading, Arsenal were desperate and just when they were losing all hope, they got a lifeline when the linesman spotted a foul on Olivier Giroud in the penalty area and handed Arsenal a crucial penalty kick. Mikel Arteta stepped up and scored his fifth goal of the season to level up the scores and from that point on, it was all Arsenal as the Gunners turned the game around and secured a crucial win thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski. The performance might have been poor for most of the game, but at this point in this season, the only thing that matters is the result. Everton had a more comfortable afternoon after they defeated Queens Park Rangers at Goodison Park. Arsenal and Everton played out a 1-1 draw when they played each other in the reverse fixture. The Toffees currently trail the Gunners by four points in the table, and they know that should they lose on Tuesday, their Champions League dream would be all but over. However, should they win then it could be a huge moment in their season, and would step up a thrilling ending to the season. This game is of the utmost importance to both sides, and with some quality players on show, this game could prove to be a classic. Everton got off to the perfect start in the league after beating Manchester United in their first game of the new season, it was a win that set the tone for their performances in the early part of the season. Everton have become notorious for their poor starts in the league, and David Moyes knew that he had to readdress that issue if Everton were to compete for a spot in the Champions league. Everton won three of their first five games in the league and Marouane Fellaini was the man leading from the front with his performances. Fellaini has tormented many teams with his ability to control the play in the air and start Everton’s attacks in the final third. He was the link man and also the man that more often than not, got the goals for the toffees. He has eleven goals to his name in the league and he has become Everton’s top scorer and main goal threat. But the Belgian is also prone to having moments of madness, as his head butt on Ryan Shawcross proved. He also missed two of Everton’s recent games after he picked up his tenth booking of the season. So despite his brilliance, he does have some flaws in his game. In Leighton Baines, Everton have one of the best attacking left backs in Europe and he is bound to create problems for Arsenal. As well as Baines and Fellaini, the other Everton man that poses the biggest threat to the Arsenal defence is Kevin Mirallas. Everton brought the Belgian from Olympiacos for £5 Million beating off competition from clubs like Arsenal. With his pace and direct play, Mirallas has offered Everton a great attacking outlet on that right flank. He struggled earlier on in the season with injuries, but keeping himself fit in the few weeks, the Belgian has found some excellent form and scored two brilliant solo goals against Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspurs. Everton have only won four games on the road this season and that has been one of their main weaknesses this season. Also, under the management of David Moyes, Everton have never beaten Arsenal away from home. Their recent record against Arsenal is not that great, either. The Gunners have won four of their last six games against the Toffees, and it’s been six years since Arsenal last lost to Everton. Arsenal welcome back Per Mertesacker, who returns after serving his one match suspension. Jack Wilshere made his first start in six weeks against Norwich City last Saturday, and it showed. Wilshere was clearly off the pace and with Thomas Rosicky possibly returning, Wilshere could find himself on the bench for the Everton game. Lukas Podolski scored his first goal is seven weeks after scoring against Norwich and that goal would have gave the German some much needed confidence after he found himself out of the first team and getting very little game time over the last month or so. With the likes of Gervinho,Podolski,Walcott and Oxlade Chamberlain all fit and ready to play, Arsene Wenger has some options to pick from in those wide areas. Walcott like Wilshere also made his return from injury against the Canneries. Thomas Rosicky missed the Norwich game, and his absence was keenly felt, as the Gunners missed the pace and drive that he gave to the team in the win over West Brom. Wenger will hope to have him back for the crucial against Everton. A win against the Toffees will all but kill Everton’s chances of a top four finish, and that would give the Gunners one less team to worry about in this run in. Arsenal have won their last four league games and if they can extend that to five straight wins, then the Gunners would be well on their way to securing a top four finish, but this game is going to be tough, and Arsenal have to be at their best if they want to see off a strong Everton team. Team News: Arsene 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: 197 Wins: 97 Draws: 42 Losses: 58 For: 321 Against: 239 GD: 82 Last 6 Meetings: Everton 1 - 1 Arsenal Everton 0 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton Everton 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 2 Everton please log in to view this image Manager's Views: Arsene Wenger on his three goal keepers: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Disagree with your team. I'd go Fabianski Jenkinson Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal Arteta Ramsey Rosicky AOC Podolski Cazorla
God knows how many times I put Podolski though the middle in the 'my team' bit on the match threads, but Wenger never plays him there. I think he last played through the middle against Sunderland at home.
Wenger's comments on the Arsenal website lead me to believe he may have a change of heart. Maybe he saw Poldi's finish against Norwich and thought "well Giroud can't do that, maybe i'm wrong not to give him a chance?" Then again, it is Wenger. Who knows what goes on in his head these days.
Let's just hope, whoever plays on that right side, can try and peg him back. Oh and we must not give away silly free-kicks, because the guy can deliver one hell of a set piece. Thank **** we do not have Song any more.
I think there's a strong possibility that we could lose on Tuesday. Everton are in top form, and as you mentioned, they have Baines set pieces, and we're hopeless from set pieces. The defence really needs to be awake for this match. They can beat us in numerous ways. Either go for the battering ram approach with fellaini, use Mirallas's skill, or Baines' deliveries.
If Rosicky's not fit, I'd put Cazorla in his midfield spot. If Wenger opts to rest Giroud, I'd have Podolski spearhead the front, with Walcott and the OX out wide, and have Walcott and Podolski interchange in the striker role.
Whenever i watch Everton they seem to threaten from every set piece they get, need to stop the hair getting headers
Not sure about that. This season he has continued to drift into the middle a lot more in order to play more centrally and closer to the CF. His role on that right hand side has changed this season, but because of his pace, he does scare left backs, and they tend not to venture forward too much. But Baines is such an attacking outlet for Everton, and nothing seems to stop him from marauding forward.
I think Wenger liked the impact of Walcott/OX/Podolski as subs so he may want to repeat the trick. Just wear them down and then use three fresh fast players who know how to get behind the defense. Everyone was talking about that "controvercial" penalty against Norwich, but as Keown rightly said Poldi/TW/Ox changed the game completely and goals were coming..
man we suck against you. Our team picks itself unless new injuries have come about. -----------------Howard----------- -Coleman-Jagielka-Distin-Baines- ------------Gibson-Osman--------- ----Mirallas----Fellaini---Pienaar--- ----------------Anichebe------------ Most of our attacks will come through Fellaini I think as we usually do that when we play the better teams though I imagine Baines and Coleman will still get up and down the wings, hopefully the space in behind doesn't get exploited. Mirallas and Pienaar will like swap sides continuously throughout the match. I do like our chances with Anichebe and Fellaini's strength up against Vermaelen and Koscielny. Howveer our record at the Emirates makes me think it'll be a draw. However I'm a pessimist... Arsenal 2-1 Everton
We didn't win the last one... got nothing to do with winning or losing anyway, just watching a good game of football between two good sides.
