Arsenal will look to bounce back from a frustrating draw against Fulham when they host Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners failed to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool in their last outing, but a dominant 3-0 win over AS Monaco in the Champions League midweek has provided some much-needed positivity. Meanwhile, Everton come into the match having had ten days to recover following the postponement of their Merseyside derby clash with Liverpool. With Sean Dyche having ample time to prepare his side, it promises to be an intriguing encounter.
Match Details
- Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England
- Date: Saturday, 14 December 2024
- Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
- Referee: Craig Pawson
- VAR: Paul Tierney
Arsenal vs Everton Head-to-Head (H2H)
Arsenal have enjoyed a dominant record in recent meetings against Everton, winning four of their last five encounters. The Toffees, however, managed to secure a rare victory last season, defeating the Gunners 2-1 in the final matchday of the 2023/24 Premier League season. Here’s a look at the last five games between these two clubs:
| Result | Arsenal | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Last Meeting | 2-1 Arsenal | |
| 4 Wins Arsenal | 4 | |
| 1 Win Everton | 1 | |
| Draws | 0 |
Current Form
Arsenal
Arsenal’s form has been solid, with some bumps along the way. Despite a 1-1 draw at Fulham last weekend, Mikel Arteta’s side have generally impressed, with notable victories over Manchester United (2-0) and a high-scoring 5-1 win against Sporting CP in the Europa League. The Gunners’ recent Champions League win over Monaco will serve as a major confidence booster ahead of the Everton match.
| Result | Date |
|---|---|
| Arsenal 3-0 Monaco | 11/12/2024 |
| Fulham 1-1 Arsenal | 08/12/2024 |
| Arsenal 2-0 Man United | 04/12/2024 |
| West Ham 2-5 Arsenal | 30/11/2024 |
| Sporting CP 1-5 Arsenal | 26/11/2024 |
Everton
Everton have been inconsistent this season, but the recent 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers was a strong showing. However, they were thrashed 4-0 by Manchester United just before that. With a solid defense and a midfield led by Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana, the Toffees will be looking to frustrate Arsenal and capitalize on any mistakes. Their ten-day break could prove vital in terms of physical and tactical preparation for this match.
| Result | Date |
|---|---|
| Everton 4-0 Wolves | 04/12/2024 |
| Man Utd 4-0 Everton | 01/12/2024 |
| Everton 0-0 Brentford | 23/11/2024 |
| West Ham 0-0 Everton | 09/11/2024 |
| Southampton 1-0 Everton | 02/11/2024 |
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal have faced a series of injury setbacks this season, particularly in defense. Both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are sidelined with knee injuries, while there are concerns over the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Riccardo Calafiori, and Gabriel Magalhães, all of whom are doubts for the match. Despite these absences, Arsenal will still have a strong lineup, and Arteta is unlikely to make drastic changes after their impressive Champions League win.
Kai Havertz is expected to return to the starting lineup after being replaced by Gabriel Jesus midweek. The young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who impressed at left-back, may make way for Jurrien Timber, depending on Arteta’s tactical choices.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Everton (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper: Raya
- Defenders: Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Timber
- Midfielders: Odegaard, Merino, Rice
- Forwards: Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Everton Team News
Everton’s injury list is relatively short, with only a few key players missing. Midfielders James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are unavailable, while striker Youssef Chermiti is still recovering from injury. The major concern for manager Sean Dyche is the fitness of defender Michael Keane, who has missed the last two matches with a knee issue. If Keane is fit, he could make a return to the starting lineup, though he may struggle to displace the solid partnership of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite at the heart of the defense.
Everton Predicted Lineup vs Arsenal (4-4-1-1)
- Goalkeeper: Pickford
- Defenders: Coleman, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko
- Midfielders: Ndiaye, Gueye, Mangala, McNeil
- Attacking Midfielder: Doucoure
- Striker: Calvert-Lewin
Arsenal vs Everton Score Prediction
Despite the setback at Fulham, Arsenal have been in strong form recently and will be determined to secure all three points against Everton. The Toffees, under Sean Dyche, are likely to set up with a solid defense, relying on a low block to frustrate Arsenal and counterattack when possible. While Dyche’s side can be difficult to break down, Arsenal’s attacking quality and depth should ultimately prove too much for the visitors.
The Gunners’ pace, creativity, and individual brilliance from players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard should give them the edge in this encounter. Everton will likely sit deep, making it tough for Arsenal to penetrate through the middle, but Arteta’s side has shown the ability to work the ball into wide areas and create chances from there.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Everton
Arsenal are expected to bounce back from their recent draw and secure a comfortable win against an Everton side that will need to stay focused for the full 90 minutes to avoid another heavy defeat.
