Arsenal and Everton will both be looking to return to form when they lock horns at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners started the season in fine style before suffering a shock defeat at home to Hull at the end of last month. They came within moments of losing to Sunderland a week later, only rescuing a point when Cesc Fabregas headed home an injury-time equaliser.
Everton may be more focused now that manager David Moyes has at last ended the uncertainty about his future by signing a new long-term contract at Goodison Park this week. They need to be, because two League victories - both away from home - and early exits from two cup competitions have left the Toffees mired in anti-climax. And while Arsenal needed a Cesc Fabregas header three minutes into stoppage-time to rescue a point at the Stadium of Light in their most recent game, Everton tossed away a two-goal lead at home to Newcastle United in theirs. The point they had to settle for was their first at Goodison out of a possible 12.
Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 home games against Everton, who earned a solitary point from the last 36 they’ve contested on Arsenal turf. That was in a 1-1 draw on 28 October 2006 - their first visit to the Emirates. Two seasons earlier, at Highbury, Everton went down 7-0 to the Gunners in what wastheir heaviest ever away Premier League defeat. Last season, the corresponding fixture finished 1-0 in Arsenal’s favour, Nicklas Bendtner scoring the decisive goal on 77 minutes.
The Gunners remain unable to call on the services of Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Eduardo da Silva (broken ankle) but Abou Diaby and Mikael Silvestre return.
Predicted Line-Up:
Almunia
Eboue - Toure - Silvestre - Clichy
Denilson - Fabregas - Diaby - Nasri
Van Persie - Adebayor
Match Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Everton
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