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Arsenal vs. Everton: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info

Gianni Verschueren@ReverschPassFeatured ColumnistFebruary 2, 2018

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil controls the ball during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Emirates stadium in London, Wednesday, Jan.24, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Matt Dunham/Associated Press

New Arsenal signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could make his debut on Saturday, when the Gunners play host to Everton in Week 26 of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

The Gunners are coming off a shock loss at Swansea City, and they will hope Aubameyang's likely debut goes better than that of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in south Wales. The league strugglers dominated Arsenal in that match, while the Toffees beat Leicester City 2-1 in their last outing.

Here's everything you need to know about Saturday's clash.

     

Date: Saturday, February 3

Time: 5:30 p.m. GMT/12:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

TV Info: BT Sport (UK), NBC (U.S.)

Live Stream: BT Sport app, NBC Live

      

Team News

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 31: Theo Walcott comes out for the warm up before the Premier League match between Everton and Leicester City at Goodison Park on January 31, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
Mark Robinson/Getty Images

According to WhoScored.com, Jack Wilshere remains a doubt for the hosts after missing Tuesday's loss against Swansea through injury. Aubameyang is likely to make his debut off the bench, with Alexandre Lacazette starting instead.

Seamus Coleman shocked everyone by playing 90 minutes against Leicester on Wednesday, to the delight of fans all over the league, per Match of the Day:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD

No matter who you support, seeing a player come back from a long-term injury is something we can all applaud. Welcome back, Seamus Coleman! 👏👏👏 #EFC https://t.co/KYPMYw4S8M

WhoScored believe the Irishman could be rested against Arsenal, as Everton slowly work him back to form. Cenk Tosun is expected to start, as he goes looking for his first goal for the Toffees.

       

Preview

Arsenal gave their fans plenty of reasons for optimism after the dreadful loss against Swansea, with the signing of Aubameyang followed by the announcement Mesut Ozil had signed a new contract.

Most pundits assumed the passing wizard would leave the club in the summer, and his staying is an enormous positive, per football writer Charles Watts:

Charles Watts @charles_watts

Ozil signing is huge for Arsenal on so many levels - For the club, but for the fans as well. Losing him on a free would have been a hammer blow. This team has to be built round him now, these should be his best years.

But while the Gunners enjoyed a good January transfer window, they failed to address some of their biggest needs. The defence has been a point of weakness all season and didn't see major upgrades, and Petr Cech still has virtually no competition in goal.

The former Chelsea man had a disastrous outing at the Liberty Stadium―his mistake that led to Swansea's second goal was one of the worst of the season―and he hasn't been consistently great in some time. It doesn't help that his defenders are routinely caught out of position, and they in turn receive little protection from the central midfielders.

SWANSEA, WALES - JANUARY 30: Petr Cech the goalkeeper of Arsenal dives on the ball as Shkodran Mustafi and Mohamed Elneny and Alfie Mawson of Swansea City look on during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on Janua
Michael Steele/Getty Images

Everton's attack hasn't been among the league's best this season―they've scored just 28 goals, compared to 46 for Arsenal―and Tosun has yet to flash the talent that led to his big move from Besiktas in January.

They do have plenty of athleticism moving forward, however, and it was on the counter where Swansea hurt the Gunners the most.

Former Arsenal man Theo Walcott could be key for the Toffees―he will be eager to do well against his former club and build on his two-goal showing against the Foxes.

Prediction: Arsenal 3-2 Everton