Everton vs Arsenal. Premier League.
Goodison ParkAttendance39,189.
Sunday 22 October 2017 12:05, UK
Danny Welbeck will be sidelined for Arsenal as they travel to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The striker, who limped off with a groin injury in last weekend's league defeat to Watford, missed the midweek trip to Red Star Belgrade and Sunday's game will come too soon for him.
The Gunners will be looking to build on their Europa League win in the domestic competition, and have won 11 Premier League away games against Everton - only at West Ham and Aston Villa (12 each) have they won more.
The pressure will be on Ronald Koeman to improve the performance of his team, who have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions and currently sit two places above the drop zone with eight points.
Arsene Wenger will make a raft of changes for the trip after a host of first-team players did not travel to Serbia on Thursday and will return at Goodison Park, with likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette in line to start.
Wenger will also hope both Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey will be fit enough to be in contention, but along with Welbeck, David Ospina (groin) Calum Chambers (hip), Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (ankle) are all out.
James McCarthy could make his first-team comeback having recovered from his knee injury and while Morgan Schneiderlin limped off the field on Thursday, he is expected to be able to feature in the contest at Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are set to return to the matchday squad after being rested for the game against Lyon, along with Oumar Niasse, who was ineligible on Thursday.
Everton have won two of their last four Premier League home games against Arsenal (D1 L1), having failed to win any of the previous six against them at Goodison Park.
There has been a red card in three of the last four Premier League meetings between these sides (Koscielny in May 2017, Jagielka in December 2016 and Gareth Barry in October 2015).
Arsene Wenger has beaten Everton 30 times in all competitions as Arsenal manager - more than he has against any other side during his time at the Gunners.
Only Crystal Palace (29) have conceded more Premier League goals away from home than Arsenal (26 - level with Bournemouth) in 2017.
Everton have won just eight points this season; their worst start to a Premier League season through the first eight games since 2008-09 under David Moyes (also eight points).
Which Arsenal will turn up? The one we've been raving about for a month before Watford? Or the team who turned up at Watford?
This could be a must-win game for Ronald Koeman on Sunday. You look at Craig Shakespeare's sacking, and Leicester were always tipped to finish mid-table. Everton were a shoe-in for seventh, at least, and Koeman is under severe pressure. They could be in the bottom three after this.
I'm going for Arsenal. I know they were beaten at Watford, but Everton are not a team who are going to kick you off the pitch. Arsenal will be more comfortable playing against them.
Koeman bought a lot of the same in the summer, and lost Romelu Lukaku. I don't think it was money well spent.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
Everton are 13/5 with Sky Bet to earn their first win in a month, but visitors Arsenal are favourites for the three points at evens, while the draw is also priced at 13/5.
Wayne Rooney is considered the most likely Toffee to score first at 6/1, but Alexandre Lacazette leads the overall market at 7/2.
