A look at the changes to the starting XI that David Moyes could make for Everton's trip to Arsenal
Everton now have an 11-day break before they resume action at Arsenal. But after naming an unchanged side for the 2-0 win at home to Burnley following the 3-2 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park, could David Moyes be tempted to go ‘same again’ at the Emirates Stadium?
One of the most hotly contested areas of the team, perhaps because neither player has entirely convinced rather than them both firing on all cylinders is up front.
Against the Magpies, Moyes handed Beto his first Premier League start since the goalless draw at Burnley on December 27 and was duly rewarded with a goal.
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However, we got to see both sides of the Guinea-Bissau international as in the second half Beto smashed an inviting opportunity against the crossbar that could have put his side 3-1 up and following a second deflected equaliser from Eddie Howe’s side, it was his replacement Thierno Barry who got him and the Blues off the hook by netting the winner, albeit off his backside.
The pair of them struggled to make the same kind of impact against the Clarets four days later, so will the Glaswegian gaffer stick or twist against the Gunners.
Along with the rest of their team, the duo both drew a blank in the reverse fixture at Hill Dickinson Stadium in December, but Premier League officials later retrospectively admitted that Everton should have been awarded a penalty when William Saliba upended Barry in the area. Somebody who has played his way back into the manager’s plans is Dwight McNeil.
After his transfer to Crystal Palace collapsed on deadline day of the winter window, the former Burnley player was left out of the Blues squad for the next two matches. However, after being on the bench against Manchester United, McNeil, deployed as an inverted right winger, has now made significant contributions in back-to-back wins, having a hand in three goals.
With Iliman Ndiaye seemingly assured of his place on one flank, McNeil’s return to favour and form make it difficult for youngsters such as Tyler Dibling, Tyrique George and Harrison Armstrong – who had featured in all 10 of Everton’s matches since his season long loan at Preston North End was cut short, before remaining on the bench against Burnley – to force their way into the starting line-up.
Armstrong could also feature in central midfield, but that is once again a congested area with Idrissa Gueye, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all still impressing in the incumbent spots ensuring Tim Iroegbunam, and Merlin Rohl, who still hasn’t got on the pitch since producing what he considered to be his best display for the club to date in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa in January, remain on the bench.
That brace of victories were also achieved with what Moyes considers to be his first-choice back four of Jake O’Brien, Vitalii Mykolenko, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite.
Therefore, unless anything happens to any of the quartet between now and a week on Saturday, the likes of Michael Keane, Nathan Patterson, Seamus Coleman or even the lesser-spotted Adam Aznou, appear unlikely to force their way into the reckoning.