MY ACCOUNT
– Arsenal have the fourth best home record in the Premier League this season
– Everton have only scored six times away from home in the top flight
– Recommended bet: Arsenal to win 2-0
Arsenal have the chance to move five points clear at the Premier League summit on Wednesday evening when they welcome relegation-threatened Everton to the Emirates Stadium.
Back-to-back victories for the Gunners over Aston Villa and Leicester has seen them put a four-game winless streak across all competitions behind them and Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping to keep the momentum going at home to Everton.
These two sides only just played each other at the start of February and it was the Toffees who secured a surprise 1-0 victory at Goodison Park that day in what was Sean Dyche’s first game in charge.
Since that victory, Everton have won one and lost two of their next three matches to leave them embroiled in a relegation battle and it is hard to see them coming away from the Emirates with a positive result.
Arsenal vs Everton (Wednesday, 7.45pm)
Team news
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is getting closer to a comeback from the knee injury sustained at the World Cup and remains on course to make his return around the middle of March, while midfielder Mohamed Elneny has had successful surgery on a knee issue of his own and is set to be out for an extended period of time.
With the games coming thick and fast for the Gunners, Arteta could decide to make some alterations to the side that defeated Leicester, with Thomas Partey, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe all pushing for starts.
Everton look like they will have to do without striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin once again, as he continues to build fitness from a thigh problem, while defender Nathan Patterson’s return has been delayed slightly due to a knock picked up in training.
Winger Andros Townsend is still over a month away from returning to action due to a knee issue, while midfielder James Garner is getting closer to a return although this contest comes too soon for him.
The stats
Arsenal have the fourth best home record in the Premier League this season, taking 26 points from a possible 33 on offer, while their only defeat at the Emirates in the top flight during this impressive run came against Manchester City.
The Gunners have scored 52 league goals so far this term – only City have netted more (64) – while their goals against tally of 23 is only bettered by Newcastle (15).
Everton are without a win in their last nine away games across all competitions and they have lost their only away match since Dyche took charge, going down 2-0 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
The Toffees have taken just seven points from 11 league outings this season – only West Ham, Leeds and Nottingham Forest have managed fewer – while the Toffees’ record of six away goals is the second worst in the division.
Prediction
Although still not playing with the same kind of fluidity and confidence seen at the start of the campaign, Arsenal have still managed to overcome two difficult tests in their last two outings – beating Villa 4-2 and then Leicester 1-0.
Being able to pick up the maximum points on offer from those two outings will have done wonders to the Gunners’ belief that they can end their long wait for another Premier League title, and it is hard not to think they will make it three wins in a row at the expense of Everton.
The Toffees have only scored two goals from their four matches since Dyche took charge, highlighting the area of the side that needs improving, but the continued absence of Calvert-Lewin makes their task even harder.
Everton are harder to break down and they have kept two clean sheets since the former Burnley boss took the reins, shutting out Arsenal and Leeds, so expect the visitors to make life tough for Arteta’s troops.
It will be a case of being patient for Arsenal and taking the scoring opportunities when they come their way. This is unlikely to be a classic and it is one the home side should be able to come out on top in.
Back Arsenal to win 2-0 in the correct score market at 9/2 with LiveScore Bet.
