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PREVIEW: Everton v Arsenal, Team News, Starting XI + Prediction

By on August 22, 2014

Arsenal take on Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday evening in what will be our first big away test of the new season.

I’m sure I won’t need to remind you how poorly we performed away from home at the ‘big’ teams last season so it’s going to be important we put in a much improved display tomorrow to show we learned from our mistakes.

Aaron Ramsey was the hero on the opening day of the season as he scored a last minute winner to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Emirates. It was a hard grind but we got the three points in the end and that’s all that matters at this stage of the season.

Arsene Wenger is probably going to be concerned about potential fatigue after a hard fought 0-0 draw away at Besiktas in our Champions League play off on Tuesday night but we can’t use that as an excuse.

We were well below par in midweek and will certainly have to be on our game more if we want to take anything off Everton this weekend. Roberto Martinez has put together a decent squad and they will be tough to beat. Make no mistake.

Team News

Thankfully we have our German trio back in the squad. Arsene has already confirmed he won’t rush them all straight back in to action as they’ve not kicked a competitive ball since the World Cup final, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was only Mesut Ozil who started.

Calum Chambers has been excellent at the back in recent games and doesn’t deserve to be dropped so I can see him continuing alongside Laurent Koscielny in defence.

Kieran Gibbs is still out while Mikel Arteta joins him on the sidelines after picking up an ankle injury in midweek. Mathieu Flamini is expected to start in the holding role in midfield in the Spaniard’s absence.

Yaya Sanogo is available again, but Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry and Ryo Miyaichi remain unavailable along with summer signing David Ospina, who has a thigh injury.

Preferred Starting XI

Santi Cazorla was very poor in midweek so I’d like to see him rested with The Ox coming in, and Alexis Sanchez replacing the hapless Olivier Giroud up front. In reality, this is very unlikely to happen and Giroud will most likely start the game but I think this line-up, with all the pace on offer, would cause the Toffees problems.

Prediction

We haven’t beaten Everton in four league games and I have a feeling we might extend that run to five this weekend. We’ve just had a tough European away day and the players may even have one eye on the return leg, so I’m predicting we’ll come away with a point.  Everton 1-1 Arsenal COYG!!

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