English Premier League: Arsenal vs. Everton – match preview
Arsenal managed to beat Huddersfield Town in an FA Cup match on Sunday, but the victory would have tasted sweeter if the Gunners had not lost their top scorer to an injury in that game. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 has scored 14 goals for his side
this season, including 9 League goals, but was seen limping with a hamstring injury, which will perhaps prevent him from playing during the month of February.
Top of the League table Manchester United are five points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, and the Emirates faithful will be keen to see http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 back in action on the pitch against Everton in this midweek Premier League
fixture. In the previous two matches played in the League, the Dutchman has managed to net in 5 goals, but it is to be seen if van Persie can stop David Moyes’ men, who have seen defeat in only one fixture since November. Last season, Everton could have won
at the Emirates, had it not been for Tomas Rosicky’s goal (scored in injury time), which earned the Gunners a point and took away two from the Toffees.
It has been five years since the Toffees have concluded a League campaign while occupying a position in the bottom half of the table, and Moyes will be keen to improve their standing with only a few weeks of League action left.
After this match, Everton will wait until the last days of April to clash with another team residing in one of the top five spots in the table.
Both Arsenal and Everton have played 23 matches this season so far, with the Gunners winning 46 points and the Toffees acquiring 27. Arsene Wenger’s men have managed 14 victories, as opposed to Moyes’ team, who have attained only
5 wins this season. Arsenal have drawn 4 and lost 5 English Premier League games, whereas Everton have been defeated 6 times, and have drawn twice as many matches. Everton players have scored 27 goals and let in 29, whereas the Gunners have scored an overwhelming
48 goals and conceded less than half that number, 22. Wenger must have some worries for his team in the disciplinary department, as the London team have 38 yellow cards and five reds to their name so far. Moyes’ men have 27 yellow cards and 3 red cards in
their campaign so far.
The Toffees have not won on Arsenal home ground since 15 years (15 games). The last time they won was at the Gunners’ old stadium, Highbury, on January 20, 1996. Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis were the goal-scoring heroes
with one each, gifting Everton a 2-1 victory over the Gunners. This will be the 195th
clash between the two sides, with Arsenal the undisputed stronger team, claiming 95 wins, compared to Everton’s 58. The Gunners have had a rock-solid defence this year, being the only team in 2011 to not concede a goal during a League match. The Gunners
have taken 14 penalties this season, in all competitions. Wenger’s men are the top team concerning Premier League sides’ performance against teams residing in the bottom half of the table. In 13 fixtures against the concerned sides, they have managed to drop
only five points.
Everton have reclaimed their usual strong form, having lost only once from their previous eight matches played in the League. Moyes’ team have drawn more fixtures than any other team in the League this season, totalling at 12 matches
so far.
The Gunners injury worries include Nasri (hamstring injury) and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-Almunia-c23386 already out with an ankle problem, their third
choice goalkeeper may have to step in. Sebastien Squillaci will miss this fixture due to incurring a one-match suspension.
Everton may not see the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Victor-Anichebe-c36018 may not play this match, as he is suffering from a groin
strain which prohibited him from facing http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 in the recent FA Cup match.
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