Arsenal will look to strengthen their position at the top of the Premier League table as they welcome away-day specialists Everton to the Emirates on Saturday Night Football.
Arsenal secured their third consecutive victory in the Premier League last time out, as they ground out a 0-1 victory away at the AMEX against Brighton & Hove Albion.
That win over the Seagulls, coupled with Manchester City’s surprise draw at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, meant the Gunners extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points – albeit they have played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s men.
Mikel Arteta’s men were also in Champions League action in midweek, and required a late Kai Havertz penalty to draw 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Everton secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since the beginning of December last time out, as they followed up their 2-3 victory away at Newcastle United by winning 2-0 at home to relegation-threatened Burnley to move them up into eighth position in the table, just five points off fifth place/
David Moyes has turned Everton into away-day specialists this season, with only Chelsea (25) and their hosts (32) picking up more points on their travels than the 24 they have managed.
The Toffees have lost just one of their previous 10 Premier League encounters on their travels (W6-D3-L1), winning four of their previous five (W4-D1-L0).
How the bookies view it: Arsenal clear favourites
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal come into this clash as clear favourites to claim all three points, with bet365 pricing a home success at 19/50.
Everton are 15/2 underdogs to make it five wins from their last six away from home, whilst the draw is 7/2.
Head to head: Six unbeaten for the Gunners
Arsenal are unbeaten in each of their previous six meetings with Everton (W4-D2-L0), including a 0-1 success in the reverse fixture in Merseyside in December.
The Toffees also have a miserable away record against the Gunners, winning on just one of their previous 29 visits (W1-D5-L24), but they did draw 0-0 at the Emirates last season.
Players to watch: Gyokeres to grab another goal against the Toffees?
Viktor Gyokeres was the hero in the reverse fixture in December, as his first-half penalty was enough to secure all three points.
The Swedish international also has eight goals and two assists across his previous 15 appearances for the Gunners, and he is an appealing 4/5 at bet365 to Score or Assist at the Emirates on Saturday.
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:
Mikel Arteta will be without the injured Mikel Merino, whilst Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard are doubts.
Everton will be missing the injured duo Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Grealish, whilst skipper Seamus Coleman is a doubt.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres
Everton: Pickford, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Garner, McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Beto
Anything else catch the eye?
Sandwiched between their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen, this has the potential to be a tricky fixture for Arsenal, especially given Everton’s impressive away form.
However, the Toffees have an abysmal record away at Arsenal, and I’m backing the Gunners to edge a low-scoring encounter.
Under 3.5 Goals has landed in eight of Arsenal’s previous 10 Premier League victories at the Emirates – as well as in the reverse fixture in December – and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
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