Premier League leaders Arsenal will look to tighten their grip on the title when they host Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Gunners are seven points clear of Manchester City with just eight games left to play, though Pep Guardiola’s men do have a game in hand, meaning there can be no complacency.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
This game kicks off at 5:30pm and will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event.
Arsenal team news vs Everton
Riccardo Calafiori limped out of Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Mansfield Town but took his place on the bench against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, so will be fit to feature if required here. Ben White was also on the bench in Germany, meaning he can be called upon against Everton.
Leandro Trossard also came off injured in that FA Cup tie, but he missed the trip to Leverkusen and remains a doubt here, as are Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino — who have been nursing more long-term issues.
“Yes, he trained yesterday, but he wasn’t comfortable to play. He said he was still feeling something, and you need at this level to play 100%, and he wasn’t,” Arteta said of Trossard after the Leverkusen game.
Crunch time for Arsenal against tricky Everton
Arsenal’s long-awaited 14th league title and first since 2004 is tantilisingly close, with the Gunners needing to keep their cool for just eight more matches.
The first of those comes here, at home to Everton. On paper, the Gunners are massive favourites and have a dominant record against the Toffees in the Premier League era.
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But where Arsenal — or, indeed, Everton — are involved, it’s never quite that simple. Only a 27th-minute Viktor Gyokeres penalty separated the two sides in their previous meeting at Hill Dickinson Stadium earlier this season, with Everton proving tough to break down and incredibly stubborn.
And before that result, Everton had managed consecutive draws against Arsenal, including 0-0 at the Emirates last season. David Moyes’ side this time head to North London off the back of wins over Newcastle United and Burnley as they chase down an unlikely European berth, so they’re not a side to be taken lightly. Indeed, their last five meetings with Arsenal have either ended in a draw, or been decided by a single goal.
If Man City win their game in hand, they can move four points behind Arsenal, so a win here is absolutely vital to maintain breathing room at the top of the table. After all, it’s Guardiola’s side that has the title-winning experience, and Mikel Arteta’s men who are more likely to feel the jitters as the finishing line moves closer.