Preview: Arsenal vs Everton – stats, team news, line-ups

The Emirates Stadium will shimmer with anticipation this Sunday afternoon, the lustrous Premier League trophy a tantalising reminder of what could be for Arsenal. 

Victory over Everton is a must, but their ultimate fate rests on a parallel pitch at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City face West Ham United.

A wave of unusual alliances swept through north London midweek as Arsenal fans momentarily shelved their fierce rivalry to cheer on Tottenham Hotspur in their clash against City. 

Conversely, some Spurs supporters found a perverse joy in City’s 2-0 victory, a result that pushed Arsenal into second place, two points adrift of the champions.

Arsenal now face the agonising reality that their performance on Sunday may not be enough. While a win over Everton is essential, the Gunners require a slip-up from City to snatch the title. 

However, a glimmer of hope remains. They boast a superior goal difference, meaning a win and a West Ham draw for City would etch their names on the Premier League title.

The season has been a rollercoaster of emotions. Edging out Man United at Old Trafford propelled them to the top, only for City’s advantage in games played to momentarily snatch the top spot.

However, unlike last season’s collapse, Arsenal have displayed remarkable resilience, pushing the title race to the wire. Mikel Arteta’s tactical and mental transformations within the squad deserve credit.

The win against Man United was Arsenal’s fifth in a row. They’ve kept four clean sheets in that run, solidifying their defensive prowess. 

Even if they fail to secure the title, they are poised to end the campaign as England’s most resolute backline.

While Arsenal need City to drop points, they must first dispatch an Everton side that can be party poopers on their day, so it’s going to be a tricky game for the Gunners.

Seatsnet.com is the best platform to secure Everton tickets for fans seeking a more immersive experience on Sunday for a game that promises to be a nail-biter.

While Arsenal fans nervously keep tabs on City on Sunday afternoon, Everton have secured their Premier League safety with a comfortable stroll to the finish line.  

Under the steady leadership of Sean Dyche, the Toffees have banished any lingering relegation fears with a string of impressive performances.

Their 1-0 victory over Sheffield United, courtesy of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s header, marks their fourth win in a five-match unbeaten streak (D1) – an impressive run has seen them bag 13 points from a possible 15 to cement their place in the top flight.

While 15th represents their highest achievable finish, there’s a chance the Toffees could be leapfrogged by Brentford on Sunday, with the Bees sitting just a point and a place adrift of the Blues. 

However, that’s unlikely to dampen the celebratory mood at Goodison Park. Premier League survival is all that matters for Everton fans, and that’s exactly what Dyche has delivered.

A closer look reveals a stark contrast between Everton’s home and away form.  

Despite their current dominance at Goodison, the Toffees haven’t tasted victory on the road in the Premier League for a staggering ten games.

To make matters worse, they have also lost 14 final-day fixtures – the worst record in the league.

This Sunday’s clash with Arsenal offers a curious echo of the 2021/22 season finale. 

Back then, Everton travelled to the Emirates Stadium after securing top-flight survival and were comprehensively defeated 5-1. 

They’ve also lost their last two encounters against the Gunners without managing a single goal. 

These historical tidbits might offer Arsenal a glimmer of hope in their own title chase. But for Everton, the focus remains solely on celebrating their hard-earned Premier League survival.

Match Preview

Arsenal boast a formidable record against Everton at home, with just one defeat in their last 27 meetings (W22, D4). 

They also have a knack for spoiling Everton’s party on the final day, having triumphed in three such encounters, so they’ll head into the final fixture confident of claiming a result.

However, coming away with the title would require defying historical odds. Since the Premier League era began, only Arsenal themselves (1988/89) have managed to win the title without starting the final day at the summit.

The Gunners hold the record for most Premier League wins on the last day of the season (22), including a remarkable 12 consecutive victories. 

Their home record on this occasion is even more astonishing. They are undefeated in the final day at the Emirates since 1992/93, but it remains to be seen if it’ll be enough to end their title drought.

This season has already seen Arsenal rewrite their own history books. 

Their current total of 86 points ranks as their third-highest in a Premier League campaign, falling just short of their title-winning seasons of 2001/02 (87) and 2003/04 (90). 

They have also set a new record for most goals scored in the top flight since 1963/64 (89).

Unlike last year’s tense relegation scrap, where a late Abdoulaye Doucoure goal secured their safety, Everton can approach this fixture with a relaxed attitude.

The Toffees will undoubtedly be happy to see the back of this campaign, one marred by an eight-point deduction due to breaches of financial regulations. 

However, they’ve shown signs of revival in recent weeks, with five wins in their last eight games (D2, L1), including a five-match unbeaten streak.

Despite a historical tendency to stumble at the final hurdle (most losses in the season finale – 14), Everton are chasing a unique feat. 

They’ll be looking to win their final game of the season in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a five-year stretch between 2007/08 and 2011/12.

Everton lost the reverse fixture against Arsenal 1-0, but they haven’t lost both Premier League meetings with Arsenal within the same campaign since 2017/18.

However, their away form tells a different tale. Everton are currently in the midst of their worst-ever winless away run under the same manager (ten games – D4, L6) in the Premier League. 

They’ve also failed to score more than once in that wretched run.

Team news & potential starting line-ups

Bukayo Saka is fit to feature in the season-defining clash for Arsenal despite coming off against Man United.

Jurrien Timber is the only other doubt for the Gunners, but the fans may have to wait until next season to see the Dutchman in action again.

Meanwhile, Andre Gomes has returned to the fold for Everton, although he’ll require a late fitness test ahead of Sunday’s showdown.

Jack Harrison, Vitalii Mykolenko, Dele Alli and Nathan Patterson are all out.

Arsenal potential starting line-up:

(4-3-3): David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu; Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice; BUkayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard.

Everton potential starting line-up:

(4-4-1-1): Jordan Pickford; Seamus Coleman, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Ashley Young; James Garner, Amadou Onana, Idrissa Gueye, Dwight McNeil; Abdoulaye Doucoure; Dominic Calvert-Lewin.