Premier League: Everton vs. Arsenal Preview, Odds, Prediction

Everton hosts Arsenal at Goodison Park on Saturday. While the Gunners aim to win the championship, the Toffees are struggling to gain consistency and move up from the relegation zone. Everton fired Frank Lampard recently, and Sean Dyche replaced him, so the fans hope to see him conducting shock therapy in the locker room. Mikel Arteta has no problems with morale, but he needs to guide his team through a turbulent period that awaits the Gunners. 

Preview

Everton (+750) removed Lampard, who obviously couldn’t lead this team in the recent few months. Yes, Everton lost some of its players, and they haven’t been particularly active on free agency, but still, them falling into the relegation zone wasn’t expected.

Sean Dyche is now the new manager, and we expect to see Everton ultra-defensive under his leadership. Dyche had a very good stint with Burnley, and with him as the manager, the Clarets even reached the European stage. 

In five games following the restart of the activities, Everton lost four and had one tie, which was at the Etihad, against Man City, 1-1. The Toffees played ten times at Goodison, winning twice, having two ties and six losses. It is one of the worst records at home in the EPL this year. 

Arsenal (-250) lost last Friday against Manchester City, which is the first failure since November 9. The 1-0 loss against the Citizens took place in the FA Cup, so it didn’t affect the EPL standings and Arsenal’s five-point edge over Man City.

Mikel Arteta and the crew restarted the season with six events without a loss, winning five of them and playing one tie, which was against Newcastle 0-0 at the Emirates. In five of seven contests following the World Cup, the Gunners netted at least twice, proving that even without Gabriel Jesus, they are still powerful upfront. 

Arsenal is the best road team in the league, with eight wins, one tie, and one defeat on road trips, scoring 20 goals and allowing 6, which is the best along with Newcastle. 

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Everton is without Garner, Keane, Patterson and Townsend in this event. 

Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus is out still, due to his knee injury, as well as Nelson. Elneny is questionable, but he probably won’t be in the lineup.

Head to Head Games

Everton and Arsenal will meet for the first time this year. Last year we saw both teams winning at home, Everton was better at Goodison Park 2-1, while Arsenal humiliated the Toffees in London, 5-1.

Though, what encourages the hosts before Saturday’s encounter is that they haven’t lost in the past four meetings against Arsenal when playing in front of their their own crowd.

Prediction

Dyche is coming to town, which will certainly bring some adjustments and changes. We don’t believe Dyche has enough time to implement his thoughts against Arsenal, who is playing very well, and who won’t allow the hosts to impose their own style and pace. The Gunners are our pick to win with the odds on that -250. Arteta and the boys have the swing and the momentum, and they have much more at stake than Everton, who still has excellent prospects of staying in the league. 

Pick: Arsenal wins -250

Here are more previews for this week’s games:

• Tottenham vs. Manchester City
• Juventus vs. Lazio
• Inter vs. AC Milan
• Barcelona vs. Sevilla