A look at the changes David Moyes may have to, or maybe forced to, make when his Everton side welcome Arsenal to Hill Dickinson Stadium
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 13: Head Coach David Moyes of Everton after Malo Gusto of Chelsea scores a goal to make it 2-0 during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Everton at Stamford Bridge on December 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
David Moyes was already losing two key Everton players to the Africa Cup of Nations but now has injury doubts over two more
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David Moyes could be forced into a clutch of changes for Everton’s final pre-Christmas fixture against Premier League leaders Arsenal at Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Everton boss knows he will be without Senegal international pair Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye, who will now depart for international duty in the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Lions of Teranga play their group games in Tangier against Botswana on December 23, DR Congo on December 27 and Benin on December 30 ,with the final taking place in Rabat on January 18.
And if Senegal, who are on one of the tournament favourites, get that far, it would mean the key duo missing seven matches for the Blues.
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Dwight McNeil and Everton’s most expensive summer signing Tyler Dibling – who has only played 82 minutes of Premier League football so far – will be vying for a spot on the right wing in place of Ndiaye.
But both of them could end up starting against the Gunners with Moyes revealing in his post-match press conference at Stamford Bridge that Jack Grealish had come through the game with a potential hamstring issue.
Gueye – who returned following a three-match suspension for his sending off at Manchester United when he slapped team-mate Michael Keane in the face – will also need replacing with potential options being Tim Iroegbunam and Carlos Alcaraz.
That pair could also be vying for a more advanced central midfield spot with the in-form Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall having been forced out of the action at Stamford Bridge just 15 minutes into the contest when facing his previous club Chelsea for the first time since his £25million transfer in August.
The 27-year-old left the field clutching the back of his right leg, but Moyes was unable to provide any details about the nature or the extent of his problem when asked by the media.
After strikerThierno Barry netted his first goal in the 3-0 home win over Nottingham Forest the previous week, Moyes warned him that he would not be given another half-dozen run of starts if he didn’t find the net again and Beto was looking good in training.
The Guinea-Bissau international came on for the Frenchman after 68 minutes at Chelsea and could potentially get the nod against Arsenal up front.
While another alternative is putting the fit-again Nathan Patterson in at right-back for Jake O’Brien.
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