Arsenal got back to winning ways in midweek, but Mikel Arteta will know his side need to keep that up. The Gunners blew a massive chance to gain crucial ground on Liverpool last weekend and now face the team that Arne Slot's side should have been playing.
Arsenal are firm favourites but there is no chance Arteta is getting ahead of himself against a club he still has strong feelings for. "The human quality and how deep is the feeling towards the club," he said of what he learnt from his six years at Goodison Park as a player.
"The club has been through different stages and recently it has been tough but I love the way they are all together and they go through their storms and the way they face it is a great example with all the instability around the club so hopefully they can find a path now with new stadium, new ownership and keep going and hopefully start a more enjoyable time."
The Spaniard is unlikely to be too charitable though. He knows only a win will do to keep Arsenal's slim title hopes alive. It's crucial that he gets his team selection spot on.