Arsenal take on Everton in this week's Saturday night football, with three vital points up for grabs for both sides at the Emirates.
The Gunners will no doubt be buoyed by their impressive victory against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, whilst Everton will want to bounce back after a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Manchester United last time out. Arsene Wenger will be keen for his side to gain yet another victory to not only maintain their impressive run, but keep the pressure on both Manchester clubs who play each other on Sunday with at least one guaranteed to drop points in what is set to be an enthralling title race.
Do not underestimate the Toffees
Wenger will no doubt be wary of the threat Roberto Martinez's side possess despite their disappointing performance against Manchester United and will no doubt be keen for his players to make an early impression on the game. Romelu Lukaku has been in fine goalscoring form so far this season while Ross Barkley is slowly rediscovering the form that had him hailed as one of European football's most promising talents.
However, the recent form from a number of Arsenal's star players will leave Wenger feeling rather optimistic in a fixture where the Gunners will be hot favourites. Mesut Ozil will be looking to continue his current form which is slowly silencing his long list of critics while Theo Walcott will be keen to gain further experience in the central striking role with the English forward beginning to impress in his new position.
Previous meetings show Arsenal dominance
Under Wenger's reign Arsenal have never lost at home to Everton a record spanning 19 games in which 15 of those games were victories. This fixture last season produced a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Olivier Giroud and Tomas Rosiscky scoring the goals in a game which Everton had their fair share of chances.
In the reverse fixture at Goodison Park last season Arsenal managed to comeback from two goals down to record a 2-2 draw, Aaron Ramsey and Giroud the goalscorers. Naismith and Seamus Coleman scored for Everton as Martinez's side dominated the Gunners for large periods of the match but were unable to see out the victory.
Team news
Arsenal will be without a number of players for the match with Ramsey sustaining a hamstring injury in the game against Bayern Munich while Mikel Arteta has been ruled out of facing his former club after getting injured in training. Gabriel Paulista is set to be fit and available after being out through illness in recent weeks while Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are still long term injury lay-offs. Alexis Sanchez may be rested due to the Chilean superstar playing six games in three weeks which could see both Walcott and Giroud start together.
Everton will be able to name three of their starting back four once again in John Stones, Phil Jagielka and Coleman although Leighton Baines is still ruled out of the match. Tom Cleverly could make his return to the squad after his ankle injury sustained against Tottenham in August with winger Steven Pienaar closing in on a return to the first team. Martinez has no fresh injury concerns.
Predicted Lineup's
ARSENAL: Cech, Bellerin, Koscielny, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud.
EVERTON: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Stones, Galloway, Barry, McCarthy, Lennon, Barkley, Naismith, Lukaku.
