Takeover excitement will have to be put to one side at Everton with a trip to the capital on Saturday afternoon to face Arsenal.
Sean Dyche’s side are going into the game against the Gunners with a five-point cushion on the bottom three, despite not playing last weekend.
Although there has been no football on display at Goodison Park, there has still been plenty to discuss with The Friedkin Group sealing Premier League approval for their takeover.
Everton have not given their fans a lot to cheer about this season but their last outing against Wolves was a big positive.
Arsenal may be sitting in third place in the Premier League table but Mikel Arteta has suggested the Toffees may hold an advantage going into the game in north London.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, applauds the fans after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Arsenal FC and AS Monaco...
Photo by Julian Finney – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Mikel Arteta suggests Everton may hold advantage over Arsenal
There was no game for Everton last weekend with the Merseyside Derby postponed due to Storm Darragh.
Since the Toffees last took to the pitch, Arsenal have played once in the Premier League and once in the Champions League.
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During his press conference on Friday, Arteta was asked whether Everton’s week of rest could provide them with an advantage going into the game.
“That’s the context. We’re so used to playing every three days. The boys trained today really fired up and looking forward to the game, understanding that it’s always a really tough opponent and we’re going to have to be really good to beat them,” he said.
The Spaniard has history with Everton having lined up for the Blues 209 times across all competitions.
Having played for the Toffees more than any other club, Arteta reacted to the Everton takeover update to emerge on Friday morning.
Everton predicted XI vs Arsenal
Everton really impressed Martin Keown against Wolves with the Toffees scoring from four set pieces last week.
Dyche provided some of his players with some minutes during the week as five Everton players were involved in a behind-the-scenes friendly against Mansfield Town.
Considering Everton put on their best display of the season against Wolves, it will be hard for Dyche to look past the starting XI fielded.
And he is going into the game against Arsenal without any further injury concerns
Everton predicted XI vs Arsenal: Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Mangala; Ndiaye, Doucoure, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin.