Venue: Goodison Park
Date: 22/10/2017
Kick-off: 13:30 (BST)
Match
Everton welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park on Sunday and it would be an understatement to say that Toffees boss Ronald Koeman is under a lot of pressure heading into the clash.
Following huge investment to improve the squad over the summer, Everton have certainly flattered to deceive so far this season and following a very disappointing loss in the Europa League to Lyon – Koeman is believed to be on the verge of being sacked.
The Everton hierarchy have handed Koeman a stay of execution but if the Merseyside outfit suffer defeat in the clash against Arsenal on Sunday, the Dutchman could well be looking for employment away from Goodison Park.
Everton Team News
Everton still remain without the services of long term injury absentees Ross Barkley, Yannick Bolasie, Seamus Coleman, Ramiro Funes Mori and Aaron Lennon but Koeman does not have any fresh injury concern to deal with ahead of the visit of Arsenal.
The backline for Everton should remain more or less the same with Jordan Pickford starting in goal while the likes of Mason Holgate, Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines provide the Englishman shield in defence.
Morgan Schneiderlin and Idrissa Gueye are likely to continue at the middle of the park even though both of them have been very poor in recent games.
Koeman does have a plethora of options in attack as the likes of Oumar Niasse, Tom Davies, Davy Klaassen, Sandro Ramirez, Kevin Mirallas and Ademola Lookman are all available but the Dutch manager looks set to put his faith on Nikola Vlasic, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Wayne Rooney once again.
Probable Lineups
Everton (Probable XI): Pickford; Baines, Jagielka, Keane, Holgate; Gueye, Schneiderlin; Vlasic, Sigurdsson, Calvert-Lewin; Rooney
Arsenal (Probable XI): Cech; Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker; Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kolasinac; Iwobi, Sanchez; Lacazette
Last Meeting
21/05/2017 Arsenal 3 – 1 Everton
13/12/2016 Everton 2 – 1 Arsenal
Prediction
Everton have clearly been very poor so far this season while Arsenal have had a typically rollercoaster campaign so far. While both teams have not set the Premier League alight, it has to be said that Arsenal head into the clash as slight favourites.
Nonetheless, Everton can certainly get something out of the clash if their talented group of players can perform to their best but it is a big if and a draw is probably the most the Toffees can expect from the encounter.
Everton 1 – 1 Arsenal
