Everton captain Seamus Coleman returns after a hamstring injury; Arsenal are without defender Gabriel through suspension; follow Everton vs Arsenal on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off 5.30pm
Saturday 19 December 2020 09:22, UK
Team news and stats ahead of Everton vs Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.
Everton captain Seamus Coleman returns to the squad for the visit of Arsenal.
The right-back has been out for two months with a hamstring injury as the Toffees have been cautious about bringing him back too soon but he could go straight into a defence which has kept back-to-back clean sheets, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford also recalled after being rested at Leicester.
Midfielder Allan (hamstring) is likely to be missing for a few weeks, Fabian Delph (thigh) remains unavailable while James Rodriguez (calf) will not be ready to return until Wednesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final against Manchester United.
Arsenal will be without defender Gabriel through suspension following his red card during the midweek draw against Southampton.
Full-back Hector Bellerin is available again after a one-game ban on Wednesday night, but midfielder Granit Xhaka continues to serve out his own three-match suspension.
Forward Gabriel Martinelli has been stepping up his recovery from a knee injury, while midfielder Thomas Partey is sidelined by a thigh problem.
Everton vs Arsenal will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm on Saturday; kick-off at 5.30pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Free highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
At least 146 Premier League games will be shown live on Sky Sports in the 2020/21 season. The Premier League has further increased the number of televised games this season from 200 to 231, with over half of the extra fixtures set to be shown live on Sky Sports.
Overall, Sky Sports will be showing at least 146 Premier League matches live throughout the 2020/21 season, continuing to bring you all the latest twists, turns and shocks at the home of the Premier League. There will also be two additional midweek programmes - one will be played across the weeks commencing January 11 and 18 and the second will be in the week commencing May 10. All of these games will be broadcast live.
You can also follow the action with our dedicated live blogs on the Sky Sports website and app, and watch free match highlights from every game shortly after full-time on our digital platforms and YouTube channel.
If it looks like a team bang in trouble, swims like a team bang in trouble, and quacks like a team bang in trouble, then it probably is a team bang in trouble.
Yet, Arsenal remain a team priced up with huge emphasis on history rather than the here and now.
You'd be absolutely quackers to back them at 19/10 with Sky Bet this weekend. And, on current performance metrics, the 33/1 for Arsenal to be relegated is probably a slice of value.
Everton - with the advantage of having 2000 fans in attendance, yes it does make a difference - look a very solid proposition to get the job done here at 11/8.
Since Everton switched to a back four at Burnley after 29 minutes, they haven't conceded a goal - an impressive feat.
Both Chelsea and Leicester - two of the most potent attacks in the league - continuously banged their heads against the Everton defensive wall and failed to create an expected goals figure above one (Chelsea 0.72, Leicester 0.73).
There has to be a strong probability of the clean sheet run continuing against an Arsenal attack that have scored just eight goals since their opening day 3-0 win over Fulham. Only Sheffield United and Burnley have netted fewer.
It's a metric backed up by the attacking performance data, too. Arsenal's chances created numbers are the third lowest in the Premier League (87) and their expected goals figure of 12.87 only puts them above West Brom, Burnley, Newcastle and Wolves. It's relegation form.
With all this considered, plus the fact Arsenal are without the suspended Gabriel, the 5/2 for an Everton clean sheet or the 100/30 for an Everton win to nil certainly makes appeal.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 2-0 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
This week on the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports News reporter Alan Myers and Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith to analyse Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta's work at Everton and Arsenal, ahead of their one year anniversaries.
Who has done the better job? We also hear from SSN reporter Paul Gilmour on whether Tottenham will bounce back from a frustrating week against Leicester - and the latest on Gareth Bale's fitness and Dele Alli's future.
Plus Sky Sports feature writer Nick Wright assesses Man Utd's 3-2 win at Sheffield United and makes his Pitch for why Leeds could upset Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side at Old Trafford…
Download the Sky Sports Football Podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
