Arsenal vs Everton Preview
Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after a 4-0 win over Everton. A month on from a painful defeat at Goodison Park in Sean Dyche’s first match in charge, the Gunners got their revenge on home soil as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli struck in a six-minute spell before half-time.
That proved enough, with a second-half charge from the Toffees, who have won just once away from home in the League this season and remain in the relegation zone, never really on the cards. Martin Odegaard made sure of the result with 20 minutes remaining before Martinelli netted his second of the night from close range, as the Gunners ran away with it late on.
It gives Mikel Arteta’s side a cushion over Manchester City at the top, and makes it three wins in a row as the Gunners have got their title charge firmly back on track after a stumbling February run.
Arsenal come into this game on the back of a 1-0 win over Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester City in the league. A goal from Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli secured the win for Mikel Arteta‘s Arsenal.
Everton, on the other hand, lost 2-0 to Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the league. Second-half goals from attacker Ollie Watkins and Argentine winger Emiliano Buendia sealed the deal for Aston Villa.
Arsenal were not to be denied at the King Power and took all three points back to base courtesy of Gabriel Martinelli’s finish early in the second half, temporarily opening up a five-point lead over Manchester City at the summit in the process.
That gap has now been reduced back down to two points due to the champions’ 4-1 thumping of Bournemouth, but Arsenal crucially still hold a game in hand, and Arteta’s side have responded admirably to their minor blip with back-to-back successes over Villa and now Leicester.
A new page of history must be written if Everton are to come away with all three points on Wednesday, as the Toffees have never won a Premier League away match versus the side at the top of the table, and their recent record on the road does not increase optimism of such a scenario coming to fruition.
Indeed, Dyche’s team are winless in seven consecutive away matches in the Premier League and have scored just one goal in that time, but one goal from James Tarkowski was all it took for the Toffees to see off Arsenal 1-0 earlier in February – their fourth win from five versus the revengeful Gunners.
Arsenal vs Everton Head to head stats
In 30 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Arsenal have won 16 games, lost seven and drawn seven.
Forward Bukayo Saka has 17 goal contributions in 24 league starts for Arsenal this season.
Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard has 14 goal contributions in 23 league starts for Arsenal.
Nigerian midfielder Alex Iwobi has six assists in the league in 24 starts for Everton.
Winger Dwight McNeil has four goal contributions in 14 league starts for Everton.
Arsenal vs Everton preview and Prediction
Arsenal are top of the league table, two points ahead of second-placed Manchester City who have played a game more. Arsenal fans are dreaming of the league title, and the club’s performances have been worthy of one so far. However, it remains to be seen whether the club can finish the job they started.
Leading the charge has been Hale End academy graduate Bukayo Saka. Saka is one of the best players in the Premier League right now, and the same statement can be applied to Martin Odegaard as well. Odegaard and Saka’s performances in attack have been pivotal.
Everton, on the other hand, are 18th in the league table, one point behind 17th-placed Leeds United. Appointing Sean Dyche as manager was a smart choice; Dyche’s ability to extract the best from available players has been well-documented, and it can be argued that he is the best man Everton could have appointed.
They have won two of their last four league games and are slowly climbing up the league table. However, each and every result from now on will be crucial for Everton as they seek to avoid relegation and ensure Premier League survival.
