Arsenal will be aiming to win their final game of the season against Everton at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday and hope for a miracle from West Ham United to lift the coveted Premier League title.
The result in midweek didn’t go the way the Gunners’ fans may have liked, as Manchester City overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to go back to the summit. Edging out Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford last weekend temporarily kept them in the first spot before Man City regained a two-point lead heading into the final game of the campaign.
This means that destiny is not in the hands of Mikel Arteta’s side and whatever they do against Everton may not be enough to end the club’s 20-year Premier League title drought.
Arsenal Team News
Bukayo Saka limped off the pitch after crashing into the advertising hoardings at Old Trafford and had to be subbed off in the 82nd minute, but that knock should not prevent the England international from starting on the right flank on Sunday.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see whether long-term ACL absentee Jurrien Timber gets some minutes off the bench against Everton, having not been selected for the matchday squads against Tottenham and Man United.
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
David Raya will look to complete a solid first season at Arsenal by keeping a clean sheet against Everton. The Golden Glove winner must come up with the goods to help his team beat the Toffees.
Defence
In front of Raya, the Gunners will line up in a 4-3-3 formation. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been pillars at the back, helping Arsenal enjoy the best defensive record in the division. They are set to take up their spots in central defence.
Ben White has been a stellar performer at right-back and deserves to retain his place in the first XI. Takehiro Tomiyasu appears to be ahead of Oleksandr Zinchenko in the left-back pecking order in recent times, and the Japanese international should complete an unchanged back four for the fifth game running.
Midfield
Needless to say, skipper Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice are non-negotiable starters for the home side. Along with Thomas Partey, they will be keen to take control of the game and dictate its flow from the first blow of the whistle. They have to be physically strong and aerially efficient to deal with Everton’s direct approach.
Jorginho, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira could come off the bench to add more solidity and energy to Arsenal’s midfield.
Attack
Bukayo Saka limped off against Man United but the hope is he will be fit to start the final game of the campaign. He will reprise his usual right-wing role, while Leandro Trossard aims to continue his sublime form from the opposite flank.
Kai Havertz picked up the assist for Trossard’s goal at Old Trafford last weekend and he should be keen to make an impact against Everton. While Gabriel Jesus is an option to lead the attack, Mikel Arteta’s chances of dropping Havertz are paper thin.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
