James Garner: Moyes Vows To Keep Everton's In-form Midfielder Amid Contract Talks

David Moyes is determined to keep James Garner at Everton as Arsenal visit Goodison Park, with the midfielder central to squad plans and attracting attention from Premier League rivals while his contract situation, disciplinary status and growing influence all shape the build-up to a match that could send Arsenal top at Christmas.

Garner joined Everton from Manchester United in 2022 and has quickly become one of Moyes’ most trusted players. The 24-year-old has started all 18 of Everton’s matches in all competitions this season. Only James Tarkowski, with 1,620 minutes, has played more than Garner’s 1,614 minutes for the Toffees.

Moyes has made it clear that Everton want Garner to remain at the club well beyond this season, despite interest from

other Premier League teams and the option for a short extension already written into the deal. "I wouldn't be letting [Garner] go and I think the Club will do everything they can to make sure that he stays," said Moyes.

Garner’s current contract expires at the end of the season, though Everton hold an option for a further year. Moyes views the external interest as a positive sign of Everton’s progress, adding that clubs had not often targeted their players in recent years. Moyes also stressed hope that Garner signs a fresh agreement when discussions arise.

Versatility has underpinned Garner’s value. The midfielder has featured in both full-back positions and his natural central role, scoring once and supplying two assists. Garner has also created 18 chances, with only Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, on 23, and Jack Grealish, on 33, surpassing that figure among Everton’s team-mates across competitions this season.

Garner was substituted late in Everton’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, with Moyes choosing to manage a looming suspension risk. If Garner receives a yellow card in any of Everton’s next three fixtures, a one-match ban will follow. Moyes balanced that concern with the need to keep a consistent midfield group available against Arsenal.

The midfield situation is further strained by Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations, while Dewsbury-Hall is sidelined through injury. Those absences helped shape Moyes’ decision at Stamford Bridge. He said: "We got him out of there with 10 minutes to go and to try to protect him a wee bit for the next games, especially with the boys going away for AFCON. "

James Garner.pic.twitter.com/64AbKnIeguEverton (@Everton) December 16, 2025

Everton vs Arsenal: Dwight McNeil and Leandro Trossard

With Ndiaye unavailable, Moyes will probably choose between Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling for the right flank against Arsenal. Should McNeil start, it will be a landmark outing. The winger would reach 100 Premier League appearances for Everton, having already played 134 league matches for Burnley earlier in his career.

If McNeil brings up that century, he will become the fifth-youngest player to reach 100 Premier League games for two separate clubs at 26 years and 28 days. Only Emile Heskey, Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Jermaine Jenas achieved that feat at a younger age across their respective spells with two English top-flight teams.

Arsenal will again look to Leandro Trossard, who has scored the Gunners’ only away goals at Goodison Park across the previous two Premier League seasons. The Belgian has nine goal involvements in his last nine away league matches, with six goals and three assists, and has registered a goal or assist in four straight away appearances.

The last Arsenal player to contribute a goal or assist in five successive top-flight away games was Bukayo Saka in the 2023-24 season. Trossard could match that run at Everton. The winger also has the chance to become the first Arsenal player since Ian Wright, between August 1995 and September 1997, to score in three consecutive league visits to Goodison.

Everton vs Arsenal: recent record and OPTA prediction

Everton have not beaten Arsenal in their last five Premier League meetings, drawing two and losing three, after winning four of the previous five. Under Arsene Wenger, from October 1996 to May 2018, Arsenal won 11 Premier League away games at Everton, more than against any other opponent in that period.

Since Wenger departed, Arsenal’s record at Goodison has been weaker, with just one victory from seven Premier League visits, alongside two draws and four defeats. Both league fixtures between the clubs last season ended level. They last shared three straight league draws from November 2012 to December 2013, when Mikel Arteta played every minute for Arsenal.

Arsenal can move to the top of the Premier League table at Christmas for the third time in four seasons with a win at Everton, having previously managed that only twice in the competition’s first 30 campaigns. On each of the last four occasions they have led or challenged strongly, Arsenal finished either second or third.

Everton’s record against clubs also competing in the Champions League this season underlines the scale of the task. They have lost all five such Premier League games, including both home defeats, 3-0 against Tottenham and 4-1 against Newcastle. Those five matches account for 83% of Everton’s league losses this campaign, with six defeats overall.

OPTA’s model rates Arsenal as clear favourites at Goodison Park, reflecting current form and historical trends between the teams.

Outcome	OPTA win probability
Everton win	19.0%
Draw	20.6%
Arsenal win	60.4%

The clash brings together Arsenal’s push to lead the league at Christmas and Everton’s effort to stabilise results, while Moyes manages squad depth, contract questions and suspension risks around Garner, underlining how individual availability, recent form and historical patterns all feed into expectations for this latest Everton versus Arsenal meeting.