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Arsenal v Everton preview: key man an injury doubt, Leno to start + prediction

By on September 23, 2018

Bernd-Leno-arsenal

Arsenal get back to Premier League action when we take on Everton at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.

We continued our fine recent form with a comfortable 4-2 victory over Vorskla in the Europa League group stages on Thursday night with two excellent late goals taking the shine off the score-line.

That made it four consecutive wins as we head in to the Everton game having beaten West Ham, Cardiff and Newcastle in the league recently so we can extend our winning run to five games in all competitions today.

Everton have compiled a decent squad but they are still getting to know each other and last weeks home defeat to West Ham means they’ve won just once so far this season so we can have no excuses for not picking up the win this afternoon.

Team News

Sead Kolasinac was spotted in training on Friday but this game will come too soon for him so he remains out along with Laurent Koscielny, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Carl Jenkinson.

Emery is set to recall a number of his first team players after resting the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Hector Bellerin, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey and Alexandre Lacazette in midweek so they are all pushing to come back in to the side.

Theo Walcott is set to face his former side and Everton also welcome Richarlison back from suspension. Yerry Mina could make his full debut but Phil Jagielka, Andre Gomes and Seamus Coleman remain out.

Preferred line-up

Bernd Leno will have been disappointed to concede those two late goals in midweek but he couldn’t do much to save either as they were excellent strikes. He looks far more comfortable playing out from the back compared to Petr Cech and although Emery will no doubt stick with the 36-year-old, I’d prefer to see Leno given a chance to cement his place.

The back four picks itself but I’d like to see major changes in midfield. Emery has gone with Xhaka and Geundouzi this season but I’d love to see Ramsey alongside Torreira if the Uruguayan is passed fit. I’m not a fan of Rambo playing in the No.10 and would much prefer to see Ozil there with Ramsey further back in a box-to-box role.

As long as Mkhitaryan is fit I’d go with him on the right, Aubameyang on the left and Lacazette through the middle. This would be my line-up:

Everton XI: Pickford, Kenny, Mina, Zouma, Digne, Gueye, Schneiderlin, Sigurdsson, Richarlison, Walcott, Tuson

Score prediction

Arsenal’s record against Everton is excellent as we haven’t lost at home to them in our last 24 meetings. We’ve also scored more goals against the Toffees than any other side and we usually find a way to get a result against them. I actually think on paper their line-up is pretty impressive but Arsenal should still have way too much for them on home soil. I’m going for a 3-1 win. Arsenal 3-1 Everton 

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