Everton vs Arsenal Prediction
π Will Arsenal maintain their Premier League lead after Matchday 17? The Gunners face a tough trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton. However, the Toffees have been far from perfect at home, dropping points in half of their eight matches so far. Meanwhile, Arsenal's lead over second-placed Manchester City has shrunk to just two points. The Gunners' schedule is challenging, with four of their next five opponents sitting in the top half of the table. How well will Mikel Artetaβs side handle this test? Our editorial team offers an insightful prediction.
Head-to-Head
π Everton have failed to defeat Arsenal in their last five encounters. However, over a span of ten games between the teams, the record is perfectly balanced: each side has claimed four victories. They've also played out two draws, including one in the last Premier League season. Notably, the total number of goals in four of their last five meetings has not exceeded 2.5.
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Everton Team Overview
Not long ago, the Merseysiders were closing in on the European competition spots. Just two rounds ago, they were sitting in seventh place, but a recent defeat to Chelsea has pushed the Toffees down to ninth. They are now two points shy of the coveted top five. Notably, Everton are the only team in the top ten with a negative goal difference (-1).
In the 16th round of the Premier League, David Moyes took his squad to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Overall, the visitors' performance in London wasn't disastrous. They had 42% possession and posed a decent threat during their counterattacks (11 shots with an xG of 1.01). However, the class of the hosts prevailed, as they didn't attack much more frequently (17 shots with an xG of 1.85) but were more clinical in finishing their chances, securing a 2-0 victory.
Match Results: Everton
Arsenal Team Overview
Not long ago, Arsenal had a comfortable six-point lead over second place. However, that gap has shrunk to just two points following a draw and their second defeat of the season in the last five Premier League fixtures. In terms of goal difference, their closest rival, Manchester City, have now surpassed the Gunners (22 compared to 20).
Their home victory against Wolverhampton in the 16th round of the EPL didn't feel convincing either. Yes, Mikel Arteta's side dominated possession (70% to 30%) and allowed virtually nothing at their own end (three shots with 0.46 xG), while they managed 11 attempts worth 1.64 xG. Nonetheless, all three goals were recorded by the visitors: two own goals and one from Wolves themselves (2-1).
Match Results: Arsenal
Latest news
Everton
π Everton's head coach commented on their defeat to Chelsea in the 16th round of the Premier League. "I felt we had many really good spells - we played quite well today. This season, we've been performing confidently in away games, and today was no exception. I understand it's hard to say this after a 2-0 loss, but we looked respectable in terms of play. Perhaps we lacked a bit of luck in the final third: the opponent was more clinical in one or two moments, while we failed to capitalize on our chances. Or maybe it's the billion-pound difference? Perhaps you know what I mean," stated David Moyes.
β Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall couldn't finish the last match against Chelsea. The midfielder, who had been in fine form (3 goals and 1 assist in his previous five matches), was substituted in the 16th minute due to a hamstring injury. Rumor has it that the Englishman will be sidelined for about a month. Also on Everton's injury list are Seamus Coleman, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Merlin RΓΆhl. Additionally, Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye have departed for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Arsenal
π Arsenal's head coach acknowledged his team's less-than-stellar performance against Wolverhampton. "We felt relieved, but it also became clear that we need to win more convincingly. We should have stepped up in the second half, and I think we managed to do that. However, we spent 2-3 minutes being completely passive. That's far from the required level against a team that didn't even have a shot on goal. We're happy to have won, but we definitely need to improve in this aspect. Every time you win in the Premier League, you should be happy. But today, we made it harder for ourselves, and that's the main lesson," said Mikel Arteta.
β Arsenal's defensive issues persist. Ben White suffered a hamstring injury in the last Premier League round. The injury isn't too serious, but the Englishman is likely to return only at the beginning of January. Previously, central defenders Gabriel MagalhΓ£es and Cristian Mosquera were sidelined. In attack, Kai Havertz has been out since the summer, with his recovery from an ACL injury expected to conclude by the end of December.
π¨ Referee and Yellow Cards
The upcoming match will be officiated by chief referee Samuel Barrott. His average for yellow cards over the last 20 Premier League matches stands at 4.4. However, matches involving both teams fall short of this figure, with an average of 3.2 yellow cards in their last five games. The same trend is observed in their head-to-head encounters: in four of the last five, the total warnings did not exceed 3.5. We believe both sides would prefer to navigate this challenging period before Boxing Day with minimal setbacks. Our pick: total yellow cards under 3.5.
β½οΈ Goal Prediction
Recent head-to-head clashes between these teams have been modest in terms of scoring: in four of the last five, the total goals did not exceed 2.5. This also applies to Arsenal's matches this season. Mikel Arteta's squad boasts the best defense in the Premier League, conceding just 10 goals in 16 rounds (compared to Chelsea and Crystal Palace's 15). However, the Gunners' attack rarely scores more than twice per game, doing so in just 11 of their last 12 league matches. Given these circumstances, a bet on total goals under 2.5 seems well-founded.
π© Corner Prediction
Everton operate with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which primarily allows them to play on the counterattack. Nevertheless, the Toffees have recently avoided being pinned back. For instance, over the last five rounds, they ceded more than 60% possession only to Manchester United, and that was because they played with a man down. At "Hill Dickinson," David Moyes' side feels more confident, creating chances through both positional play and set pieces. Their average number of corners over eight home games is 5.88. For the upcoming match, bookmakers have set more modest odds for the hosts in this area. Therefore, we suggest betting on Everton's total corners over 3.5.
Editor's Prediction
Everton have navigated their last six matches reasonably well, suffering just two defeats. These results keep the Toffees in the top half of the table, close to the European competition spots. However, as seen in their clash with Chelsea, they still struggle against the league's giants. Arsenal face a challenging schedule ahead, with David Moyes' side being one of the less formidable opponents, and notably a favorable one: the Blues have failed to beat the Red-and-Whites in their last five encounters. We believe Mikel Arteta and his squad are fully aware of the importance of maintaining their lead in the league standings. Therefore, we anticipate a straightforward 2-0 victory for Arsenal.
Betting Tips: Everton - Arsenal
in 20 of last 21 games.in 14 of last 16 away games (Premier League).in 12 of last 13 games (Premier League).in 9 of last 10 away games.
in 18 of last 19 Everton home games.in 16 of last 17 Everton home games (Premier League).in last 11 Arsenal games.in 9 of last 10 Arsenal away games.in last 7 Arsenal games (Premier League).
in last 21 Samuel Barrott games.in 12 of last 13 Samuel Barrott games (in the Premier League).in last 7 Everton home games against Arsenal (Premier League).in 13 of last 14 Everton games.in 12 of last 13 Everton games (Premier League).in 9 of last 10 Everton home games.in 8 of last 9 Everton home games (Premier League).in 12 of last 14 Arsenal games (Premier League).in 8 of last 9 Arsenal away games (Premier League).in last 5 Arsenal games.in last 7 away games against Everton (Premier League).
Comparison of Teams Stats
Other predictions
