Everton vs Arsenal
The times they are a changin’ at two famous old English clubs, and Everton and Arsenal are set to meet in the weekend curtain-raiser at Goodison Park.
Premier League Everton vs. Arsenal is one of those classic top flight fixtures between two of the best loved sides. But both are in a time of transition, having sacked their head coaches in recent weeks.
So on Saturday for the two caretaker managers — who are both playing legends at their clubs – they will come face to face as their ever-present Premier League sides aim to have a better second half of the season than the first.
Freddie Ljunberg was part of the Arsenal 2004 Invincibles team which went unbeaten for a whole season, while Duncan Ferguson was the most brilliantly aggressive striker in recent Goodison history.
Since Unai Emery was potted by Arsenal and Marco Silva exited Everton, Ferguson has faired the better of the two caretakers, but Saturday is another chance for Ljunberg to show what he can do from the dugout.
Talking points
Toffees coping well with horror fixtures
The Everton vs Arsenal news is as much about managerial situations as the players, and under the guidance of Ferguson, the Toffees have done pretty well. They followed up a 3-1 victory over Chelsea with a 1-1 draw away to Manchester United, in the midst of what was billed as a nightmare run of games.
Defeats to Leicester City and Liverpool saw the end of Silva, but Ferguson stopped the rot. And though beaten on penalties, his side also draw 2-2 with Leicester in the Carabao Cup quarter final last night.
Leighton Baines scored the pick of the goals with an injury time pile-driver. Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin started as the front two and they are forming a good understanding, with the Brazilian having six league goals while the young Englishman has five.
Ferguson is doing himself no harm at all but reports suggest that Everton are hoping to close in on a deal to bring Carlo Ancelotti to Goodison Park after the Italian head coach was axed at Napoli.
The Toffees’ board have made no secret of their desire to bring a world class coach to the club and Ancelotti is their top target, though Ferguson will be part of any future management team.
These are exciting times on Merseyside and here at SBOBET, we’re watching the evolving situation at Everton closely.
Can Mikel save Arsenal’s season?
I’d say things at Arsenal are more unsettled. It is a team that undoubtedly has a first class attack, spearheaded by 11 goal Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. However, the midfield and defence isn’t functioning as a combined unit.
The Gunners were well and truly bamboozled by the magic of Kevin de Bruyne last week, crashing to a 0-3 home defeat. De Bruyne inspired the Sky Blues to a three-goal half time lead, before taking their foot off the gas in the second half.
And four points from the last four games — including a draw with Norwich and defeat to Brighton — has left Arsenal well off the pace in tenth place on 22 points. This time last season they were fifth on 34 points.
Manchester City coach and ex Arsenal player Mikel Arteta has been in talks at the Emirates but Pep Guardiola will be reluctant to see his right hand man leave, and the Sky Blues will demand a hefty compensation.
Arteta is the supporters’ choice and his reputation alongside Guardiola has grown immeasurably in recent seasons.
History
No fans of any other club have enjoyed more seasons in the top flight of English football than Everton and Arsenal.
The Toffees have had the most First Division and Premier League seasons at 116 in total,while the Gunners hold the record for the most consecutive seasons at the top with 94 from 1919 to the present day since no football was played during the Second World War.
Of the 56 games played between these two sides in the Premier League era, Everton have won only eight, while the Gunners have triumphed on 36 occasions and there have been 12 draws.
This game resulted in a 1-0 home win last season, as Phil Jagielka became the oldest player to score in the 2018/19 Premier League at 36 years of age.
Arsenal won the previous four encounters, scoring 15 goals and conceding four.
Betting tip
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Everton vs Arsenal | 2-3 Goals @ 2.08 |
| December 21, 8:30(GMT+8) |
The Everton vs Arsenal betting odds tell us that all three results are in play with the Toffees at odds of 2.35, the draw at 3.50 and Arsenal at 2.79.
If I had to come down on one side it would be with Everton since they seem to have more momentum. But Arsenal have such quality in attack that, on their day, they can take apart any defence.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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