Jarrad Branthwaite had not traveled with the Everton squad for their warm weather mini-break, but it looks like he might be fit after all for tomorrow’s trip to London to take on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, David Moyes said he thought the big centrehalf would be good to go. He added that Charly Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman are both out, as is Jack Grealish.
Everton finally ended their home hoodoo last time out, but they have a whole other streak of
futility they have to deal with at the Emirates as the Gunners look to hold their nerve in the run-in to the title.
For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will be missing Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard, with Leandro Trossard facing a late fitness test. Don’t rule out a rotated lineup with this game coming in between two Champions league fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen last Wednesday and then again on Tuesday.
Who’s Out?
Jack Grealish (foot) is unavailable for the rest of the season, with Carlos Alcaraz and Seamus Coleman out for a couple of weeks at least.
Everton squad available vs Arsenal
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Travers, King
Defenders: Keane, Branthwaite, Tarkowski, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Coleman (INJURED), Patterson, Aznou
Midfielders: Gueye, Garner, Iroegbunam, Dewsbury-Hall, Röhl, Armstrong
Wingers: McNeil, Ndiaye, Grealish (INJURED), Dibling, Alcaraz (INJURED)
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
Jarrad Branthwaite – 6/10 Sounds like he might be fit again
James Tarkowski – 9/10
Jake O’Brien – 7/10
James Garner – 9/10
Idrissa Gueye – 9/10 Gana has been much better in recent weeks
Dwight McNeil – 8/10 The winger has been in better form now that the failed transfer is behind him
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 9/10
Iliman Ndiaye – 9/10
Thierno Barry – 9/10
Bench
Mark Travers
Nathan Patterson
Michael Keane
Tim Iroegbunam
Merlin Rohl
Harrison Armstrong
Tyrique George
Tyler Dibling
Beto
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The Blues can only dress nine subs, so it’s Adam Aznou to miss out.
