Everton vs. Arsenal: Team News, Live Stream, TV Info, Ticket News
Saturday's Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal is a clash of two sides that could both be said to have underachieved this season.
Despite having a side sprinkled with top-class talent, Everton sit in the lower half of the table. While they have made it through to an FA Cup semi-final, their league form has been a significant disappointment—especially in a season when so many other potential challengers for the top four have struggled. Roberto Martinez may end up looking back on the 2015/16 Premier League as a missed opportunity.
Arsenal are in serious danger of feeling exactly the same come May. This season presented a brilliant opportunity for the Gunners to land their first league title since 2004, but they’re making a hash of it.
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In this most turbulent of campaigns, there is still time for Arsene Wenger’s men to turn things around, but if they’re to stand any chance of doing that, they'll surely need all three points at Goodison Park.
Date: Saturday, March 19
Time: 12:45 p.m. GMT / 8:45 a.m. ET
Location: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Television coverage: BT Sport 1 / BT Sport 1 HD / BT Sport Ultra HD (UK only), NBCSN, NBC Universo (U.S. only)
Streaming: BT Sport app (UK only), NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S. only)
Ticket Information: For ticket information on all Premier League games visit the official site or go to the ticket page on the home club's official website. Secondary ticket information for Everton can be found here.
Form
Everton
L (0-1) vs. West Bromwich Albion
W (0-2) vs. Bournemouth
W (1-3) vs. Aston Villa
L (2-3) vs. West Ham United
W (2-0) vs. Chelsea
Arsenal
L (1-2) vs. Swansea City
D (2-2) vs. Tottenham Hotspur
W (0-4) vs. Hull City
L (1-2) vs. Watford
L (3-1) vs. Barcelona
Everton have come out on top just once in the last 17 meetings between these two teams, drawing six times and losing 10. They also come into this fixture on a poor run of home form, having lost their last two in the league at Goodison, against West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion.
Arsenal are also on a bad streak, having failed to win any of their last three Premier League games. Much of that is down to poor defending—Wenger’s team have conceded seven goals in those three games.
The Managers
The pre-match press conferences for this fixture have seen a bit of a love-in take place between the two managers.
Martinez has spoken out about his admiration for his Arsenal counterpart. He clearly believes Wenger has been harshly criticised, according to Sky Sports:
"It just shows you the times that we live in. It's a need to criticise the losing team. It doesn't matter what you've done at a football club, the modern game is useless. Everyone knows better than you, and that's disappointing.
You can see what Wenger has done at Arsenal. He has been inspirational for many managers. I think it's a very strong challenge for any individual. He is constantly innovative. These people don't come along too often.
"
The respect appears to be mutual. Martinez has also come in for some stern examination this season, but Wenger delivered a glowing verdict, per his club's official website. Asked whether Martinez could emulate his own longevity, Wenger replied: "I think so. Personally I rate him as a quality manager. First of all, would he want to do that? The longer you stay the more you're questioned. As well, will the club want to do that? I don't know. But he has the qualities to be a super manager."
It remains to be seen whether the two managers' apparent camaraderie will survive an intense 90 minutes on Saturday.
Team News
Everton
The Toffees will be without both Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas through suspension. Barry’s absence could allow Muhamed Besic to start for the first time since Jan. 24. Bryan Oviedo is another potential absentee—the Costa Rica international has only just returned to training following a chest infection.
John Stones’ poor form is likely to keep him on the substitutes' bench, with Ramiro Funes Mori deputising alongside Phil Jagielka.
Predicted Everton XI (4-2-3-1): Joel Robles; Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Ramiro Funes Mori, Leighton Baines; Muhamed Besic, James McCarthy; Aaron Lennon, Ross Barkley, Tom Cleverley; Romelu Lukaku.
Arsenal
Arsenal lost Mathieu Flamini to a hamstring injury at the Camp Nou, although it’s unlikely he would have played in this fixture anyway. Francis Coquelin is the obvious choice to step in alongside the in-form Mohamed Elneny.
Wenger’s biggest decisions surround his centre-backs and centre-forward. Per Mertesacker sat out the game in Barcelona but could be recalled alongside Laurent Koscielny. Up front, Danny Welbeck’s impressive midweek showing in Catalonia should be enough to keep him in the side ahead of Olivier Giroud—if he has the requisite stamina so soon after coming back from injury.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): David Ospina; Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal; Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny; Joel Campbell, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez; Danny Welbeck.
Players to Watch
Everton: Romelu Lukaku
After facing the terrifying trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar in midweek, Arsenal find themselves about to go up against a striker who has scored six goals in his last six games.
Wenger praised the ebullient Belgian, per his team's official site:
"He's developing well—year after year he's better. His finishing his better, technical link-up play is better. He is promising a big career, it's always a sign when the numbers are better year after year.
We've just played against Neymar, Messi and Suarez, so [Lukaku] give us another headache. Our defenders should take encouragement from the performance they put in against Barcelona.
"
Nevertheless, Arsenal’s defence will need to be significantly improved to keep Lukaku at bay.
Arsenal: Mesut Ozil
It was noteworthy that at full time at the Camp Nou, while the rest of the Arsenal team went over to commiserate with their travelling fans, Ozil headed straight down the tunnel.
He doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football nearly as much as he was earlier in the campaign. Although Ozil has 18 Premier League assists, his last nine matches have produced just two of those.
Arsenal must hope Ozil can return to his inspired best if they are to revive their ailing season.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.
