Arsenal face Everton on Saturday in what could be a very tricky game for the Gunners.
It’s Set-Piece FC vs Set-Piece FC at the Emirates as the Premier League’s two most-potent teams from dead-ball situations go head-to-head on Sunday.
Most goals from set-pieces since 2023/24 Goals
Arsenal 26
Everton 23
Man City 20
Aston Villa 20
Liverpool 17
*Excluding penalties
Sean Dyche has previously hailed Arsenal’s set-pieces as being underrated, and that’s something both teams need to be wary of on Saturday.
This is an emotive game for Mikel Arteta too as he faces off against his former side.
In fact, Everton once considered hiring Arteta as a manager after he had a very successful spell at Goodison Park as a player.
Writing in his column for SportsKeeda, Paul Merson has been previewing this game, and he’s had a go at predicting how this one will go.
Paul Merson working as a pundit for Sky Sports ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal FC at Old Trafford on May 12...
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Paul Merson predicts Arsenal vs Everton
Merson shared his thoughts on how this match will pan out.
The pundit notes that Everton have an extra week off heading into this fixture, buyt he thnks that break won’t do The Toffees any good.
Therefore, Merson has predicted a comfortable win for Arsenal.
“Everton players getting an extra week off due to the Merseyside derby being postponed will not matter against Arsenal in my opinion. In fact, I think it’s a nightmare for them that the derby did not go ahead as planned. Liverpool were coming off the back of a draw, bit jaded and had Mac Allister suspended. The conditions were also going to be tricky due to the storm so Everton may have sensed an outside chance of getting something from it,” Merson wrote.
“Now they’ve had to have an extended break after that 4-0 win over Wolves and it won’t do them any good. I expect Arsenal to win this quite comfortably.”
Arsenal’s recent record vs Everton
Given their respective league positions, one may think this will be an easy win for Arsenal, but Everton have caused the Gunners a few headaches in recent years.
Indeed, the last 10 meetings between the two sides in the Premier League have been finely balanced.
Arsenal’s last 10 league games vs Everton
Wins 5
Draws 1
Losses 4
Everton haven’t finished above Arsenal since the 1980s, but they have been able to hold their own against the Gunners in recent years.
Arteta needs to be wary of his former side heading into this weekend, because as teams like Fulham, Bournemouth and Brighton have already shown this season, those mid-table outfits can put up a fight against the top sides.
Dyche is the type of manager who loves to frustrate the top teams away from home, and Arsenal need to be bang at it here if they want to keep their title hopes alive.
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