Arsenal will look to keep pace with Premier League leaders Manchester City as they welcome Everton to the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
Arsenal moved back within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City last Sunday as they ground out a 0-1 victory at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest.
Noni Madueke’s deflected strike in the 80th minute secured a 0-1 success – and helped land a couple of winners for me.
Mikel Arteta’s men did see their 100% start to the league phase of the Champions League on Wednesday night come to an end, drawing 2-2 in Bavaria against reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich – on an evening both of my selections cruised in.
Everton suffered their first defeat of the campaign in the Premier League last Saturday, as a second-half brace from Pedro Neto gave Chelsea a 0-2 win in Merseyside.
Despite that setback, David Moyes’ visitors are eighth in the Premier League table and travel to North London having drawn each of their opening three away matches this season.
How the bookies view it: Arsenal favourites
Arsenal are favourites to make it seven wins from eight in the Premier League this season, with bet365 pricing a home success at 21/50.
The Toffees are 13/2 to claim their first away win of the campaign, whilst the draw is 15/4.
Head to head: Gunners dominance in North London
Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their previous seven meetings with Everton (W5-D2-L0), including doing the double over them last season.
The Toffees also have a miserable away record against the Gunners, winning on just one of their previous 30 visits (W1-D5-L25), including a late 2-0 defeat at the Emirates last campaign.
Players to watch: Declan to deliver again?
Declan Rice scored his first goal for Arsenal this season at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night, as his late equaliser rescued a point for the Gunners.
The England international also has four assists to his name this season, and the 2/1 on offer at bet365 for him to Score or Assist at the Emirates on Saturday appeals to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Arsenal will be without William Saliba, Christos Tzolis and Piero Hincapie due to injury, whilst Bukayo Saka is a doubt after coming off injured against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.
Everton, on the other hand, appear to be at full strength.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori, Guimaraes, Rice, Eze, Odegaard, Madueke, Havertz
Everton: Pickford, Maitland-Niles, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Armstrong, Garner, Rohl, Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Barry
Anything else catch the eye?
As alluded to, Everton have a woeful record in North London against Arsenal, and it’s hard to envisage them claiming any points this Saturday.
The Gunners have won six of their opening seven Premier League encounters this season (W6-D0-L1), with all six of those victories featuring fewer than four goals – and a repeat pays an appealing 11/10 at bet365.
Everton failed to score in both of their defeats to the Gunners last season, and an Arsenal Win to Nil pays a slightly bigger 5/4 at bet365.
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