Everton travel to Arsenal in the Premier League this evening
Everton travel to Arsenal in the Premier League this evening
Welcome to our coverage of Arsenal vs Everton in a 5.30pm Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium. It's a big game for both sides.
For table-topping Arsenal it gives them the chance to extend their lead over second-placed Manchester City to 10 points.
While if can maintain their excellent away form and pick up their first win at the Gunners in 30 years it would lift them up to seventh and within two points of sixth-placed Liverpool.
There is no doubt it will be a tough task for the Blues. But they had to north London on the back of four wins and two draws in their last six unbeaten games on the road.
Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley are at the Emirates to bring you all the build-up to kick-off, including team news when it drops at 4.15pm, followed by an in-game commentary stream and the best post-match reaction and analysis.
See for further details on how you can watch the encounter.
Exterior view
The scene that greeted us on our arrival at the Emirates Stadium.
Arrived at the Emirates Stadium with for Everton’s game against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
A bit warmer and sunnier than Manchester last night for the FA Youth Cup quarter-final.
— Christopher Beesley (@CBeesleyEcho)
Greetings from the Emirates Stadium
Good afternoon everyone and greeting from the Emirates Stadium.
Everton will go toe-to-toe with Premier League leaders Arsenal this evening with David Moyes facing Mikel Arteta, who he brought to English football when he signed him for the Blues in 2005, in the opposition dugout.
Everton haven't won away to Arsenal in front of fans for over 30 years since they enjoyed a 2-1 comeback victory at Highbury in January 1996 but they have enjoyed a dozen triumphs on their travels since Moyes returned to the club.
If you're not lucky enough to be at the Emirates, I'd recommend you staying right here and following the match with us!
But if you want to learn more about how you can watch the action, you can do so by clicking .
It's no surprise to learn that there's a lot of mutual respect between Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and his Everton counterpart David Moyes.
And here's what former Everton midfielder Arteta has been saying about his old boss before kick-off:
He changed my career basically after my decision to go back to Spain, and then he brought me to Everton. He really changed my career and me as a player as well and a lot of incredible things that we share together.
For me, that's why he's one of the greatest managers the Premier League has ever had, because to maintain that level and that consistency in many different contexts and clubs is just so difficult to do and people have to appreciate it because it's very rare, and I don't know how many times it's going to happen.
You need to have, first of all, some very, very strong values, an incredible work ethic and so much passion for the game because he's been through great moments, some difficult moments, and the way he's navigated through them, he's always conducting himself in the same way and that's a huge credit for him.
Everton line-ups for Arsenal as Dwight McNeil and Jarrad Branthwaite decisions made
To change a winning team or not? That's the question our Everton reporters have been asking themselves.
To see what line-ups Joe Thomas and Chris Beesley, see .
Dwight McNeil during the Premier League match between Everton and Burnley at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of Arsenal v Everton in the Premier League.
It's a 5.30pm kick-off but we'll have plenty of build-up before then.
Team news will be dropping at 4.15pm for what is a big game for both sides.
Arsenal could really pile the pressure on Manchester City with a victory. If they did that, the Gunners would move 10 points clear of City, albeit having played two matches more, before their title rivals head to West Ham United in the 8pm kick-off.
But while there doesn't feel as much pressure on Everton, after back-to-back wins, another victory would seriously aid their hopes of qualifying for Europe.