Everton head south to take on Arsenal on Saturday after an unscheduled 10-day break following the postponement of the Merseyside derby.
Whether that postponement works in Everton’s favour or not is up for debate, but I think most Toffees fans will agree that the rearranged game being under the lights at Goodison is better than a 12:30 BST kick-off.
The hope is also that the team will be in a very different place by then, possibly with a new manager and/or new January signings. But in the short-term Everton will have played a game less than their rivals, allowing them to crank up the pressure at the bottom of the table.
It also makes their festive run no less daunting. After Saturday’s game at the Emirates it is Chelsea, who look set to be title challengers, before a trip to out-of-form but still world class Manchester City.
That made the 4-0 win over Wolves even more important, allow everyone a bit of breathing space. Despite not playing Everton remained out of the drop zone after this weekend’s game and are likely to remain so at Christmas. It is a low bar but psychologically significant.
Hopefully by the long-awaited takeover by the Friedkin Group will have been completed, providing a further boost after a chaotic few years. Reports on Friday suggested Premier League approval had been granted, with the final details going through next week.
Saturday’s game is the first meeting of the sides since the sad passing of Kevin Campbell in June. There will be tributes before and during the game for a player who served both sides with distinction, but was - more importantly - a wonderful human being who has been taken far too soon.
Everton v A.F.C. Bournemouth - Premier League - Goodison Park Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images
The opposition
After several years of steady progress under Mikel Arteta Arsenal look to have hit a stumbling block as they bid to end their 20-year wait for a Premier League title.
After back-to-back second place finishes behind the Manchester City juggernaut, the Gunners must have welcomed their dramatic dip in form. But the north London side have had a bit of a wobble themselves, going four games without a win in October and November. They bounced back by reeling off three straight wins, before a frustrating draw at Fulham last time out leaves them six points behind leaders Liverpool.
It is hardly terrible form by any stretch but shows just how high he standards have to be in this league.
They can at least take some comfort from their excellent record over Everton going into the weekend. The Toffees have won just once at Arsenal since 1996, a Covid-era 1-0 win in 2021, and have won the last three meetings.
Previous meeting
Arsenal 2-1 Everton, 19 May 2024
Arsenal FC v Everton FC - Premier League
Everton were not unfortunate not to come away with a point when the two sides met on the final day of the season last May. Idrissa Gueye’s deflected free-kick put the Toffees in front against the gunners, who needed to win and hope City did not in order to claim the title. Takehiro Tomiyasu levelled just before the break and Kai Havertz struck a controversial late winner, which was given despite a decent handball shout from Gabriel Jesus that went to VAR screen but was not given by referee Michael Oliver.
Team news
Everton FC v Fulham FC - Premier League Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
The extended break has allowed a few players to work on their fitness. Seamus Coleman, Armando Broja, Youssef Chermiti, Nathan Patterson and Jake O’Brien all came through a behind-closed-doors game at Finch Farm in the week.
Michael Keane has also recovered from a minor knee issue, but James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are still out.
What they said
Everton boss Sean Dyche on his reputation for being strong at set pieces: “I’m not bothered. People just twist and turn situations to their liking. It’s the way life is. Finding different ways of winning is what I have always been trying to achieve, with whatever group I’m working with.
“Sometimes there are certain clever ones that catch people out, but generally it is down to delivery and intent. It’s something I have always preached strongly to groups I have worked with. It is not always about clever movement, just the simple basic of a top delivery and attacking it. That sometimes gets overlooked. But I know the box I live in - that’s the way it goes.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: “As we all know, the club has been through very different stages through its history and recently they’ve had a very tough one, but I love the way they get together, go through their storms and the way they face it is a great example. Again, what Sean [Dyche], the coaching staff and players have done in recent years with all the instability around the club, hopefully they can try to be apart from that now with the new stadium, with new ownership as well and keep going and start to have more enjoyable times.“They haven’t lost the rules and that fighting spirit, togetherness and love for the club in regards to whatever happens - they are there. That’s not easy and that makes them really special. Hopefully that will help them, and give them stability. The project with the new stadium looks unbelievable as well, so there’s a lot to be excited about.”
Final word
Expectations are fairly low for this one, I have to admit. We may scrape a point I guess, but most Toffees are just hoping the team does not get battered. Focus then then switch to what could be a momentous week in the club’s history.