Arsenal v Everton: Everton’s European Finish Gunned Down in Flames?
I by no means wish to sound patronising but I’m starting to really feel for Everton. For a long stretch of the season, they were strong contenders for fourth; now it’s possible they won’t even get fifth and that I feel would be a strong injustice.
Fairness and Football Rarely Go Together
If it’s been said once it’s been said 100 times but Everton’s season literally went down the pan after that energy-sapping, soul destroying Uefa Cup night against Fiorentina at Goodison. Since that night, the Toffeemen have only won one game and that was a strained effort against Derby. They almost broke clear of the fight for fifth after taking the lead against Villa but a frantic finale saw the points shared and fifth place still either teams for the taking.
Excuses, Excuses?
While many think you can’t use the small squad excuse - just look at Aston Villa - I beg to differ. While Villa have had the almost unheard of luxury of announcing the same team for the past three games, Everton have had several key injuries to contend with.
No Cahill, no Vaughan, an absent Arteta for a few key games and no Anichebe; Everton have been a little lacking in attack. Yes, of course they have their two first choice strikers in Yakubu and AJ but without Cahill and Arteta, the club’s natural playmakers, the pair have been continuously forced to make something from an endless deliverance of long balls. And chances are, even with Arteta back to fitness, the same will be asked of the pair in this one as they try to slip through the Gunners back line.
Gunning Back with a Vengeance?
Arsenal already know they are ending the season empty handed (with the exception of their Champions League qualification). And now that the pressure has been lifted, Arsene Wenger believes they have managed to retain their previous impressive standard of play.
Bless him (and yes that does sound very patronising); two wins, one against Reading and the other a 6-2 trouncing of Derby, were hardly the most testing of matches - no offence to Reading and Derby fans so think Wenger is being a tad on the optimist side with his comments. Encounters with Everton though have proved to be more of a challenge.
Head to Head
The scoreline for the pair’s last meeting is very much misleading. The general perception was Everton played the better football, passed the ball better and in fact deserved to win the game; they simply weren’t prepared for Arsenal route-one tactics eventually succumbing 4-1.
In the three last league meetings between the two teams, both have picked up 4 points apiece. Everton have put three past Arsenal but two of them came from Tim Cahill who we all know will not play again this season. Johnson did claim the injury time winner last season but is far from on form - without a goal in his last 5 appearances. Yakubu is also not particular renowned for successful firepower against Arsenal - scoring just two goals in 9 appearances against the Gunners.
At the end of the day, there is a reason why Arsenal remain unbeaten at home this season and I simply can’t see that honour being broken here.
Pundit’s Pick: I wish I could say otherwise but Everton lose their fifth place claim (home win). Do you agree with this for your Premier 10 prediction? Play Now>>
Tags: Arsenal, Everton, Gunners, Premier 10 match preview, Premier League football, Toffees
