Everton will look to put a spanner in the works of Arsenal’s title challenge as they head to the Emirates on Saturday evening.
The game in north London comes after a frustrating 10-day break following the win over Burnley (courtesy of their early FA Cup exit). Let’s hope that has not stalled any momentum gained from back-to-back wins in quick succession, which means Europe is a realistic aim as we head into the run-in.
Everton are sat eighth and just a point behind Brentford in seventh. But the league
remains tight, with six sides within six points of David Moyes’ team. It works the other way too, with Everton just five points behind Chelsea and Liverpool in fifth and sixth respectively.
After Arsenal, Everton will play Chelsea, Liverpool and Brentford – the three sides immediately above them in the table. It’s a great chance to stay in the mix and prevent those sides from sailing off into the distance.
The Toffees will also play Manchester City before the end of the season, meaning they will have a say on where the trophy will end up in May.
To even be having a conversation about Europe is a huge relief after the stress and drudgery of recent seasons. Watching Spurs’ recent matches and the reaction of their supporters brought back horrifying flashbacks. We know exactly how they feel right now. But how nice it is to watch the relegation battle from a safe distance?
There’s no doubt that Saturday’s game will be tough, as it always is at Arsenal – just one win (during Covid) away at the Gunners since 1996 is testament to that. But with the Gunners’ nerves jangling and Everton boasting the joint third-best away record in the league, why not go there with belief?
The opposition
Seven points clear with nine games left, this is Arsenal’s best chance to lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
Victory on Saturday will move them 10 points clear, having played two games more, with Man City able to reduce the gap with a result against West Ham later that evening.
Not only that, they face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final later this month, host Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final and have been handed a relatively kind route to the Champions League final.
And for a team supposedly getting nervous, their results certainly aren’t showing it. They have won nine of their last 12 in all competitions, including their last three in the Premier League following an admittedly damaging draw at bottom side Wolves.
Mikel Arteta’s side are grinding out results just as any title-chasing side should, but that has not stopped stinging criticism for their reliance on set pieces. This is not a Man City-under-Pep style of team.
But in a season where total football has been replaced by corners, long throws and long balls into the box, Arsenal have done it better than most, with 23 goals from set pieces, including penalties. After three successive second-place finishes, they will not care how they win it. And why should they?
The north London side are also looking to extend their unbeaten run against Everton to seven matches, having lost three of the previous four before that.
Previous meeting
Everton 0–1 Arsenal, 20 December 2025
Everton’s final game before Christmas ended in a narrow defeat against the Gunners. The visitors were restricted to few chances but took the lead through a Viktor Gyökeres penalty after Jake O’Brien had been penalised for handball following a VAR check. Everton should have had a penalty when Thierno Barry was booted into the air in the second half but the officials said no. The PGMOL later conceded that the officials had made a mistake in not awarding a spot-kick.
Everton, that.
Team news
Everton are hopeful Jarrad Branthwaite will be fit as they continue to manage his minutes following his return from a hamstring injury.
The defender came off late on against Burnley and has been monitored over the 10-day break between matches.
Seamus Coleman and Charly Alcaraz remain sidelined, while Jack Grealish is out for the season with a broken foot.
Final word
A game for hope rather than expectation, but Everton are a different beast on the road under David Moyes – only Arsenal have accrued more points since his return. So why can’t they have a go?
