Arsenal v Everton preview: Gunners buoyed by Bayern Munich win
Saturday 24 October 2015 17:31, UK
Arsenal go into their Saturday Night Football clash with Everton on a high after beating Bayern Munich in midweek.
Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil scored to give the Gunners a memorable 2-0 win over the Bundesliga champions and earn their first points in this season's Champions League.
Arsene Wenger's men are on fine form in October, scoring eight goals in three games and conceding none so far this month, including an impressive 3-0 win over Manchester United.
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They had Petr Cech to thank for keeping another clean sheet with a superb display on Tuesday night, and the Gunners boast the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League.
Everton, meanwhile, were on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline against Manchester United, but that was their first defeat in six Premier League outings and they are unbeaten on the road so far this season.
Team news
Arsenal will be missing Aaron Ramsey as the midfielder faces at least three weeks out because of a hamstring injury. Centre-back Gabriel is available again following illness, but captain Mikel Arteta (ankle) misses out against his former club.
Goalkeeper David Ospina (shoulder) is not available, while Jack Wilshere (fibula), forward Danny Welbeck and Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky (both knee) all continue their rehabilitation.
Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley could make his first-team return having played 60 minutes of an U21 match on Tuesday, in his first run-out since sustaining an ankle injury in August.
With winger Steven Pienaar also nearing a comeback after featuring in Tuesday's contest and full-back Leighton Baines among a group of other players making good progress in their rehabilitation, Roberto Martinez says he is "very close" to having a full squad.
Opta stats
Arsenal have lost just one of their past 16 Premier League meetings with Everton (won nine, drawn six), but the Toffees have lost only one of the past six, with four of those games ending in a draw (won one, lost one).
The Gunners have had more touches in the opposition box than any other side in the Premier League this season (329), while Giroud has netted four goals in the Gunners' past four meetings with Everton in all competitions.
Everton have scored five goals courtesy of substitutes in the Premier League this season - more than any other side - but those replacements will have a tough time to keep that run going against Cech, who has the best saves-to-shots ratio of any goalkeeper in the Premier League so far in 2015-16 (82.1 per cent).
Theo Walcott has been directly involved in 15 goals in his past 15 Premier League starts for Arsenal (12 goals, three assists), while at the other end, Romelu Lukaku has now scored 47 Premier League goals and is closing on on 50 while still aged under 23, a feat achieved by only four other players.
Merson's prediction
This is one of those games for Arsenal. The Manchester United and Bayern Munich games don't concern me, I know they are going turn up but with this one you're not quite sure which Arsenal are going to turn up. This is a real banana skin, for me. Everton will stick 10 behind the ball and try counter Arsenal with the pace of Ross Barkley and Lukaku.
Everton had to attack Manchester United last weekend, whereas they don't have to at the Emirates. They are a hard team to break down but I think Arsenal will win, although it will be interesting to see how the game pans out. This is a big match for the Arsenal.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
Betting
Sky Bet make Arsenal odds-on shots to extend their winning run to four matches against 6/1 shots Everton. The Gunners have not conceded at home in the league since their opening-day loss to West Ham, while the Toffees have failed to score in two of their past four away games, and Arsenal to win to nil is 6/4.
Arsene Wenger's side have also won their past three league games by three goals and can be backed at 11/4 to score three or more goals. Four of the past six meetings between the sides have finished in draws and another stalemate is 15/4.
