MY ACCOUNT
– Everton come into this match in dreadful form but with a new manager in Sean Dyche
– Arsenal have been ruthless on the road, winning eight of 10 Premier League away games
– Recommended bet: Arsenal/Arsenal half-time/full-time double result
Dan Sait correctly predicted a low-scoring game between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest and a Barcelona win with BTTS in their clash with Real Betis, and he expects Sean Dyche to struggle as he takes charge of Everton for the first time in their Premier League meeting with Arsenal.
With relegation fears looming, the former Burnley boss has been brought in to reverse a run of form that has seen the Toffees take just one point from their last seven games to sit second from bottom in the Premier League.
But while Everton supporters will be desperate for any sort of positive result to climb away from danger, Arsenal will be pushing for all three points as they look to maintain the gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester City.
Neither Dyche nor Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta can expect any favours from a fully-focused opponent, but the visitors have a clear advantage when it comes to raw quality.
Team news
Sean Dyche will be unable to call upon attacker Andros Townsend, who is still a few weeks away from recovering from a knee injury, and right-back Nathan Patterson, who will be out until late February with a medial ligament injury.
Winger Anthony Gordon has departed for Newcastle, but two centre-backs, Ben Godfrey and Michael Keane have an outside chance of returning. However, midfielder James Garner remains unavailable.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus will be out for another month with a knee injury, while midfielder Mohamed Elneny is set to be out for much of the rest of the season following surgery.
Winger Reiss Nelson also misses out with a thigh injury, but midfielder Thomas Partey is expected to return, and attacker Emile Smith Rowe has an outside chance of recovering from a thigh problem.
Deadline day signing Jorginho is available after arriving from Chelsea.
The stats
Arsenal have won on only two of their last 10 Premier League trips to Goodison Park, with the most recent success coming five seasons ago in 2017. Everton have won three of the home meetings since then and did the double over the Gunners two seasons ago.
However, Sean Dyche has only ever won one of his 15 managerial meetings with Arsenal, losing 11 times and drawing only three.
He also faces an Arsenal side who have been as impressive on the road as at home this season, taking 25 points from ten Premier League away games.
Arteta’s men have dropped points on just two occasions on the road, and while the Gunners were slightly off-colour in October’s 1-1 draw at Southampton, they were unlucky to lose 3-1 at Old Trafford.
And the Toffees’ record at Goodison Park does not suggest they will halt the Gunners’ charge, as Everton have lost each of their last four home matches, including defeats to fellow strugglers Southampton, Wolves and Leicester.
Prediction
A change of manager at Everton and Arsenal’s poor record at Goodison Park slightly muddies the water in what otherwise would look like a straightforward assignment for the Gunners.
The Toffees supporters will be in good voice as they welcome Dyche to the club, and the players are sure to show a little more as they look to impress their new manager.
However, the Gunners have been too impressive to doubt against a struggling opponent, and this version of Arsenal looks a different beast to those who have struggled on Merseyside in recent years.
Arteta’s men try to overwhelm teams by racing out of the blocks and blitzing their opposition, leading to them being ahead at half-time in seven of their 10 Premier League away games this term.
They should be able to repeat the trick at Goodison and hold on to take all three points.
Back Arsenal/Arsenal half-time/full-time double result, available at evens with LiveScore Bet.
