Arsenal will face Everton for the 226th time, resuming Premier League duties at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners, fresh from a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League, are eager to keep pace with Manchester City, who currently lead the table by three points. Hard-fought victories over Leeds United and Nottingham Forest after the international break haven't been enough to dislodge the flawless City side.
Meanwhile, Everton make the journey to North London after suffering their first defeat of the season against Chelsea. David Moyes will demand a more resilient performance from his men. The Toffees have managed just two wins from seven league games but will be keen to add to their four draws with another against the Londoners. Mikel Arteta understands that his players will need to sharpen their finishing to breach Everton's stubborn defence, especially after the champions only managed one shot on target in a lacklustre 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Match Prediction: Arsenal aiming for a third consecutive Premier League win
Arsenal are clear favourites for this clash. With little time for rest in a packed October schedule, they have already played four matches since the international break, and the fixture against Everton will be the first of five before the next pause in November. However, Arteta's squad depth means he can manage the hectic calendar with relative ease. The Spaniard might rotate his line-up without sacrificing quality, a luxury that Moyes simply does not have.
This encounter is unlikely to be overflowing with goals, given the impressive defensive records and modest scoring stats of both teams so far this season. The more pragmatic outfit is expected to come out on top, and that is almost certainly Arsenal. They possess a better squad, greater confidence, and the advantage of playing at home. Historically, Arsenal dominate this fixture, having won 40 of the 68 Premier League meetings. They haven't lost to Everton in their last seven encounters, including both home and away victories last season.
The Gunners' defence has proven extremely reliable, having kept four clean sheets in the Premier League and conceded just five goals—the fewest in the division. Moreover, they hold the lowest expected goals against (5.6 xGA) in the league. The squad depth is also paying dividends: no side in England's top tier has had more goal involvements from substitutes, with nine. The expected scoreline is 2-0 in favour of the hosts.
Predicted line-ups and injury concerns
Arsenal will still be without injured players William Saliba and Christos Tzolis. Piero Incapie may also miss another match due to an ankle injury. The biggest blow for the Gunners is the quadriceps injury suffered by Bukayo Saka during the game against Bayern. The England international lasted just 10 minutes on the pitch, and Arteta admitted the situation looks bleak, with reports suggesting Saka could be sidelined for around two months.
Nonny Maduweke will likely replace Saka on the right after scoring a match-winning goal last time out. Eberechi Eze, who made an impact in Munich, will fill in on the opposite flank. Ben White and Myles Lewis-Skelly could also find themselves in the starting XI as Arteta aims to maintain freshness ahead of the well-rested Everton.
Predicted Arsenal line-up (4-2-3-1):
David Raya; Ben White, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori; Declan Rice, Myles Lewis-Skelly; Nonny Maduweke, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze; Kai Havertz.
Everton's squad has remained stable for most of the season, and any changes after their defeat to Chelsea will be minimal. Moyes is fortunate to have a fully fit roster for the trip to the capital. Tyreik Barry will look to continue his scoring streak with support from Kieran Dewsbury-Hall. James Garner and Harrison Armstrong will play in behind, while Jack Grealish takes up position on the left flank. The defence will remain unchanged, meaning Ainsley Maitland-Niles will face his former club at right-back.
Predicted Everton line-up (4-2-3-1):
Jordan Pickford; Ainsley Maitland-Niles, James Tarkowski, Jarrad Branthwaite, Vitalii Mykolenko; James Garner, Harrison Armstrong; Danny Rohl, Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, Jack Grealish; Tyreik Barry.
