Everton are into their holiday gauntlet as they host Arsenal after stumbling away at Chelsea last weekend. The Toffees – like many other teams – have lost two key players to the Africa Cup of Nations for the next month or so. With Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye missing now, things did get worse for the Blues with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hobbling off at Stamford Bridge.
David Moyes had a couple of positive notes though from his pre-match press conference with Jack Grealish fit to play despite going
off early last weekend and Merlin Rohl expected to be in the matchday squad.
League leaders Arsenal are led by Mikel Arteta who rose to fame as a player under Moyes. Martin Zubimendi will play, but Cristhian Mosquera, Ben White, Gabriel, Kai Havertz and Max Dowman are all injured with Riccardo Calafiori suspended after picking up five yellow cards.
Who’s Out?
Seamus Coleman (hamstring), Jarrad Branthwaite (hamstring) and now Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (hamstring) are all confirmed out.
“Kiernan is doing well but not available for the game. He’ll be a big miss for us but that’s what happens at this time of the years – liable to lose players, every club has got injuries and suspensions, so we’re no different to anybody else.
“Merlin is back. He’s been training and hopefully he’ll be back available for the game. Jack is okay. Jack will be fit and available to play [against Arsenal], yes.”
Everton squad available vs Arsenal
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite (INJURED), Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye (AFCON), Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall (INJURED), Röhl
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye (AFCON), Grealish, Dibling, Alcaraz
Strikers: Beto, Barry
Tactics and Formation
Everton will likely stick to the 4-2-3-1 they’ve used so far.
Starters (likelihood of starting rated out of 10)
Jordan Pickford – 9/10
Vitaliy Mykolenko – 8/10
Michael Keane – 9/10
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jake O’Brien – 8/10
James Garner – 9/10
Tim Iroegbunam – 8/10 Not much choice here for the Blues.
Jack Grealish – 8/10
Carlos Alcaraz – 8/10 Charly has deserved better than the spot starts he’s had for how effective he has been.
Dwight McNeil – 6/10 A controversial choice, but given he’s seen more time than Tyler Dibling he’ll probably start. Also, he provides more defensive cover that will be needed against the Gunners than the youngster.
Thierno Barry – 8/10 The striker is going to have to show us that he’s capable of doing more now that he has that maiden goal.
Bench
Mark Travers
Tom King
Nathan Patterson
Adam Aznou – Watching from the bench as Myko struggles to cross effectively has to be excruciating.
Merlin Rohl – Unlikely to start given he’s just returned from injury, but should come on at the hour mark when Iroegbunam customarily starts flagging.
Tyler Dibling
Beto
Everton Under-21s Player 1 (likely a central defender)
Everton Under -21s Player 2 (likely a midfielder)
