Match: Everton v Arsenal
Date: Sunday, October 22
Time: 8:30PM Sunday (SGT)/ 6PM Sunday (IST)/ 1.30PM Sunday (BST)
Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool
TV Info: Singtel TV (Singapore)/ Star Sports Select (India)/ NBC Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Starhub Go app (Singapore)/ Hotstar app (India)/ NBC Sports App (U.S.)
Overview
Everton welcome Arsenal for a clash in the Premier League at Goodison Park, with both teams trying to kickstart their respective league campaigns.
The Toffees suffered another frustrating result in their own efforts in Europe as they went down 2-1 at home to Lyon. Despite a more positive performance, an early Nabil Fekir penalty and a Bertrand Traore flick gave the visitors all three points, despite Ashley Williams' headed leveller.
Last season, Arsenal came to Goodison Park off the back of three very impressive wins against West Ham (5-1), Basel (4-1) and Stoke City (3-1). However, goals from defenders Seamus Coleman and Ashley Williams secured all three points for the Toffees.
The Gunners will be looking to build on their Europa League win in the domestic competition, and have won 11 Premier League away games against Everton - only at West Ham and Aston Villa (12 each) have they won more.
The pressure will be on Ronald Koeman to improve the performance of his team, who have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions and currently sit two places above the drop zone with eight points.
Arsene Wenger will make a raft of changes for the trip after a host of first-team players did not travel to Serbia on Thursday and will return at Goodison Park, with likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette in line to start.
James McCarthy could make his first-team comeback having recovered from his knee injury and while Morgan Schneiderlin limped off the field on Thursday, he is expected to be able to feature in the contest at Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are set to return to the matchday squad after being rested for the game against Lyon, along with Oumar Niasse, who was ineligible on Thursday.
Team News
Ronald Koeman has confirmed that Morgan Schneiderlin has shaken off the knock that forced him off against Lyon on Thursday and will be available to face Arsenal.
The Blues boss also revealed that James McCarthy is available for selection after his cameo for the Under-23s in their defeat to Wolfsburg at Goodison Park on Tuesday.
Leighton Baines, Phil Jagielka and Wayne Rooney – all rested in the Europa League on Thursday – are set to return to the squad.
As for Arsenal, manager Arsene Wenger named a predominantly youthful squad for the Gunners' Europa League trip to Red Star Belgrade on Thursday, with Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere some of the more senior players handed minutes.
Wenger will be boosted by the return of key players Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey after they were left out of their last Premier League game at Watford.
However, Danny Welbeck misses out with a suspected hamstring injury, and will be joined by Callum Chambers who has suffered a recurrence of a hip problem. The duo join Laurent Koscielny (Achilles) and Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) in the treatment room. Long term absentee Santi Cazorla continues his recovery from an Achilles injury sustained over 11 months ago in a Champions League game against Ludogorets.
Predicted line up
Everton potential XI: Stekelenburg, Robles, Williams, Mirallas, Sandro, Martina, Kenny, Klaassen, Besic, Rooney, Niasse
Arsenal potential XI: Cech, Debuchy, Elneny, Sanchez, Wilshere, Walcott, Nelson, Giroud, Akpom, Holding
Head to Head
Arsene Wenger has beaten Everton 30 times in all competitions as Arsenal manager - more than he has against any other side during his time at the Gunners.
Everton will be hoping for a repeat of last year's result against Arsenal which kickstarted a series of wins for the Toffees. The Blues currently find themselves with eight points from eight games following last week's draw with Brighton at the AMEX Stadium.
Everton have won two of their last four Premier League home games against Arsenal (D1 L1), having failed to win any of the previous six against them at Goodison Park.
There has been a red card in three of the last four Premier League meetings between these sides (Koscielny in May 2017, Jagielka in December 2016 and Gareth Barry in October 2015).
Everton have won just eight points this season; their worst start to a Premier League season through the first eight games since 2008-09 under David Moyes (also eight points).
