please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal travel to Goodison Park to take on Everton in the Premier League this Wednesday evening. Both teams could only manage to get a point in their previous league games, the Gunners played out a dour 0-0 with Aston Villa at Villa Park. Arsenal failed to create many clear cut chances and struggled with their attacking play. In their last three away games in the league, the Gunners have managed to score just the one goal and that’s a concern going into another away game. Arsenal also could not manage to win back to back league games and that was something they last did in September. A late Sébastien Bassong goal for Norwich denied Everton all three points and a much needed win for the Toffees. In their last six league games, they have only managed to win one of those and that has seen them drop out of the top four. Arsenal have not fared much better in their last six league games and can only boast two wins in those run of games. So both teams have hardly been in stellar form in the league. Arsenal, though have had the upper hand over Everton in the last few years. The Gunners have four straight wins over Everton coming into this game and have taken all three points at Goodison Park in the last two seasons. Everton’s last win against Arsenal was over five years ago when they defeated the Gunners at Goodison Park in the league. If Arsenal win on Wednesday, then they will have done something no team has managed to do against Everton at Goodison Park. With Everton starting the season so well, they have placed themselves in and around that crucial top four place and both these teams are expected to compete for one of those champions league places this season. Wednesday will see how these two potential rivals do when they come up against one another. 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 tormented Manchester United 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 six goals to his name in the league and he has become Everton’s top scorer and main goal threat. Fellaini normally plays off Nikica Jelavic who has scored five goals in the league. Jelavic had a fantastic start to his Everton career and although he has not been as clinical this season, he still offers a very real goal threat. Leighton Baines has again been one of the best performers in this Everton side and has also arguably been one of the outstanding players in this Premier League this season. His contribution to Everton is immense and he provides them with such an attacking outlet from the wide areas. In tandem with Steven Pienaar, Everton have caused many teams all sorts of problems from that left hand side. Everton again did not invest heavily in the summer transfer window, but instead were on the lookout for some bargains. And so far, Kevin Mirallas is proving to be just that. 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 new attacking outlet, but he has yet to score in the Premier League. Mirallas has missed Everton’s previous two league games after suffering a hamstring injury in Everton’s win over Sunderland a few weeks back, and they have indeed miss him. So it will be a major boost for the toffees if Mirallas can recover in time to face Arsenal. In their last three away games, Arsenal have only been able to muster up a single goal and their attack has been blunted by the home team. They will have to improve tenfold in the attacking department if they are to get a win at Everton. Theo Walcott missed the Aston Villa game with a shoulder injury and the Gunners certainly missed him. Walcott has been one of Arsenal’s most productive players this season, having scored nine goals and assisted seven in all competitions. Walcott is still a doubt for the visit to Goodison Park and the Gunners will have hope that the Englishmen can recover in time. Jack Wilshere was rested against Aston Villa and he is expected to get back into the team for the game against Everton. Kieran Gibbs made his comeback from injury against Villa and he had a solid game in a position that had become a problem for Arsenal. Thomas Vermaelen did not feature last Saturday and as captain, is likely to get back into the team. Mikel Arteta returns to a ground that he called home for six years and he goes into the game not in the greatest of form. Arteta has been a constant in the Arsenal team because there is not a player in the Arsenal team that can play his role. After selling Alex Song, Arsene Wenger did not buy a replacement and Abou Diaby is again in the treatment room. So the responsibility and work load on Arteta’s shoulders are immense. After beating Tottenham in the North London Derby, many Arsenal fans hoped that it would be a catalyst for their team to go on a winning run in the league but that has not happened. The disappointing draw at Villa halted that and the Gunners now need to get back to winning ways at Goodison Park, which is not going to be an easy task. Six different teams have tried and have failed to do that this season and Arsenal will have to be the first. But, Everton are hardly in great form themselves, so this game is finely poised. This should be one of the games of the midweek as it matches two of the teams in the top six and hopefully Arsenal can record a fifth straight win over Everton. 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: 196 Wins: 97 Draws: 41 Losses: 58 For: 320 Against: 238 GD: 82 Last 6 Meetings: Everton 0 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 Everton Arsenal 2 - 1 Everton Everton 1 - 2 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 2 Everton Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal please log in to view this image Managers Views: Arsene Wenger on how he is focused on helping his side reach it's potential: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Theo is absolutely VITAL for this. I'll be at the Game Looking forward to it. No idea if there are any decent Away Pubs around Goodison though. Anyone else going?
Cant say im particularly confident about this game, Everton are a far better team than Norwich or Villa. Moyes will have them fired up for this one..
Thanks bud! I'm walking distance from Goodison so no Parking for me Tempted to find an away Pub, I doubt I'll be wearing colours as we might go into town after, but I'd rather drink with the Goonies if there are specific places they're going.
Last time I went to Goodison was over twenty years ago and I was too young to drink alcoholic beverages
This is a crunch game and one that could define our season. Everton are in the mix for a top four spot, so we need to be taking points off of them. We've had some decent results at Goodison over the years, but for both teams going into this game, you'd have to say that this will be far from an easy trip for us. I still fancy us for this though. And I'm going for a replica of the last game when I was at Goodison. classic O-1 to the Arsenal and my scorer is Perry Groves
As mentioned in the match thread, our recent record against Everton is excellent. But if Everton turn up like they did against United, then it could be a long night.
Toffee here, crunch match for both teams really, both are in a slump at the moment and even though we've only lost twice, we have drawn far too many. We tend to do really well under the floodlights at Goodison against the top teams so I'm hoping for another night like the opening match of the season when Fellaini terrorised united's defence in similar circumstances. I'm not confident we will win though, I'm fairly convinced it will be another draw for us as always but I'll stay hopeful of victory. However depending on team news my mind might change. Against Norwich at the weekend we had 6 injuries and Fellaini suspended. Coleman Hibbert (made the bench) Neville Gibson Mirallas Anichebe As you can see, our three right backs are currently not fit, Hopefully Hibbert will be fit enough to come back otherwise it will be Jagielka at right back again. Luckily Fellaini's back and there's a good chance Gibson will be in the squad. Haven't a clue on Mirallas or Anichebe whilst Neville and Coleman have no chance of returning in time. I think it's guaranteed that Hibbert will be fit but if no one else returns then our line up will be... ------------------------------Howard-------------------------- -------Hibbert--------Jagielka----Distin--------Baines------ ---------------------Hitzlsperger----Osman------------------- ---------Naismith/Oviedo---Fellaini--------Pienaar----------- ------------------------------Jelavic----------------------------
Lawro has predicted a 2-1 Everton win. Excellent news for Arsenal! Why is everybody putting so much energy into ripping Arsenal for a game played in a downpour? Honestly this Arsenal fan behaviour is becoming a disgrace to the club. If you want to boo Arsenal go support another team, I'm sick of the lot of you!
Then don't read the forum Seems to me, Arsenal are playing poorly & not winning games. Am I missing something?
Would you describe the Villa, either Schalke, Spurs prior to the Ade sending off or Fulham performances as "the stuff of Champions?"
