Everton vs Arsenal Preview

August 21, 2014
By: Deke Hardman

Arsene Wenger

Saturday’s Premier League action concludes at Goodison Park where Everton face Arsenal.

The hosts kicked off their campaign with a 2-2 draw at newly promoted Leicester City, while their last game in front of their home fans was a 3-2 defeat to would be champions Manchester City back in May.

However, that was just one of three defeats in front of their own fans during a campaign in which they amassed a Premier League record of seventy-two points, a tally which saw them fall just seven short of a top-four spot.

Ross Barkley has been ruled out for a minimum of eight weeks with a knee injury, and joins fellow long-term absentees Arouna Kone and Brian Oviedo on the side-lines.

Romelu Lukaku is favourite to get the first goal of the game at 6.5 (11/2) with Coral, with Steven Naismith a 9.0 (8/1) chance with a variety of firms.

Roberto Martinez’s men are 2.8 (9/5) with a number of bookmakers to pick up all three points, with Arsenal slight favourites at 2.6 (8/5). The draw is a 3.5 (5/2) chance with William Hill.

Arsene Wenger’s side survived a scare at home to managerless Crystal Palace last weekend, coming from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory.

No side won more games on the road than the North London club last season, though they were convincingly beaten on their last visit to Goodison Park.

Former Toffee Mikel Arteta will miss the game after the Gunners’ captain was substituted with a sprained ankle in the midweek draw with Besiktas in the Champions League qualifying round.

Yaya Sanogo, Kieran Gibbs, David Ospina, Serge Gnabry and Ryo Miyaichi are also out, along with Theo Walcott, who should return in a month.

Olivier Giroud is 8.0 (7/1) to open the scoring with Coral, while Alexis Sanchez is a 9.0 (8/1) shot with the same firm.

Both teams have scored in nine of the past thirteen meetings between the sides, and with such attacking talent on show, you may want to take advantage of Ladbrokes offer of 1.7 (7/10) for both to do so this time around.

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