Premier League: Arsenal Aim to Get Back on the Winning Trail

Arsenal vs Everton

Premier League leaders Arsenal welcome Everton for a Sunday lunchtime rendezvous at the Emirates… but it won’t be the warmest of welcomes.   

The Gunners lost their 100 per cent start to the campaign last week with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of a rejuvenated Manchester United but they have a great chance to get back to winning ways in a home fixture against struggling Everton.

The Toffees have their tails up following a battling 0-0 draw in the Mersey derby, but they have started the campaign slowly and find themselves in 16^th place and only outside the drop zone on goal difference.    

The SBOTOP odds point firmly towards a home win at a price of 1.36 and I’m inclined to agree, but let’s take a closer look at the two teams and see if we can make a case for the Toffees.

Talking Points

Do Arsenal have bounce back ability?

So the Gunners are beatable. Any fanciful thoughts of emulating the great Arsenal Invincibles of 2004 went up in smoke at Old Trafford as United boss Erik Ten Hag masterminded a brutal ambush. The Gunners had over 60 per cent of possession and more shots, 16 to ten. But the Red Devils were more clinical and, after Bukayo Saka had cancelled out Antony’s opener and the Gunners pushed for a winner, the hosts hit them twice on the break with a rare brace from Marcus Rashford.

It all added up to a frustrating afternoon for Mikel Arteta’s men and the Gunners have a chance to get it out of their system in a Europa League clash away to FC Zurich on Thursday, when the head coach will make some changes to protect his key players.

While other teams spent heavily in the transfer window, Arsenal were clever in their investments. Aside from bringing the excellent centre-back William Saliba back on loan from Marseille, the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City looks to be a great piece of business. The Brazilian striker has scored three goals and made three assists, while captain Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have also bagged three goals.

Everton will try to frustrate

Arsenal have goals in them every time they play and the Toffees’ task is to stop them.   They gave a great account of themselves in the Merseyside clash with Liverpool as the Toffees defence managed to keep a clean sheet against a Reds attack which included Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as well as substitutes Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

To keep one of those players quiet takes some doing, but to shut all five out is some achievement. Keeper Jordan Pickford played his part while Everton are sure to start again with the newly recruited centre-back pairing of Conor Coady and James Tarkowski. They are both experienced Premier League defenders and will certainly let the young Arsenal forwards know they are in for a tough afternoon.

The Toffees could even have nicked all three points against Liverpool as Tom Davies hit the woodwork, but, in fairness, Liverpool rattled the Everton woodwork twice as Nunez and Salah were both frustrated. If Everton can foray into the Arsenal half then winger Anthony Gordon is the best outlet, he has two goals to his name and, with quick feet, is always good for a penalty shout. 

Frank Lampard’s successor as Chelsea head coach, Thomas Tuchel has just been sacked by the Blues, but Lamps won’t be feeling entirely comfortable in his current position as the latest Premier League 2022 betting odds suggest the Toffees are in for another relegation battle.

But a solid defensive display against the pace-setters will do him no harm at all.      

History

Arsenal have had the better of these encounters, winning 39 of the 63 meetings in the Premier League era while Everton have managed 11 victories and 13 draws.

The last coming together, on the final day of last season, resulted in a 5-1 mauling for the Toffees but it still wasn’t enough to win Arsenal a Champions League spot.

In terms of early season form Arsenal are streets ahead. They have won five and lost one of the last six, while Everton have won one game over that period, a 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over League One club Fleetwood.

Betting Tip

Everton’s Premier League 2022 results are yet to yield a victory and that puts pressure on head coach Lampard, but I believe the Toffees will have to wait for at least another week before they can break their duck. Odds of 8.20 will give a handy reward for those Everton fans who have the ultimate faith, and even the more pragmatic supporters will be happy with a price of 5.03 for a draw. But Arsenal will be desperate to return to winning ways; they are fast starters and have the attacking quality to hurt any team in the division.

 

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