Arsenal vs Everton Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Arsenal welcome fellow top-four hopefuls Everton to the Emirates tonight in a game that may go a long way to determining who qualifies for the Champions League next season.

We head into the game sitting third in the Premier League table after a 3-1 win over Norwich City on Saturday, when three late goals secured a vital three points to catapult us above Chelsea and Tottenham.

We could really take charge of third place with a win this evening and severely dents Everton’s hopes of a top-four finish. However, we’re just one point clear of our London rivals and four points separates us from sixth-placed Everton, so the Toffees could move to within a single point of us with a win tonight and really put themselves in the mix for Champions League qualification.

We head into the game in excellent form having won our last four league games but the visitors are also on a great run, winning four of their last five, so two of the league’s in-form sides go head-to-head tonight.

Team News

Midfielder Tomas Rosicky is back in contention after recovering from a minor hamstring strain that kept him out of the Norwich clash on Saturday. Jack Wilshere played 60 minutes at the weekend and is likely to start again tonight after coming through unscathed.

Lukasz Fabianski is a major doubt with a rib injury opening the door for Wojciech Szczesny to return to the starting line-up after losing his place in recent weeks.

Per Mertesacker is also back in contention after serving a one-match ban and if he’s recalled, Thomas Vermaelen is most likely to miss out. Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski came off the bench to make a real impact on Saturday so could start while Nacho Monreal is pushing for a recall after missing out at the weekend but I think the boss will stick with Kieran Gibbs at left-back tonight.

Everton manager Moyes has no new injury worries to contend with so they’re likely to go with the same side that beat QPR 2-0 at the weekend.

Preferred Line-ups

It will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger line’s-up now that he has the majority of his squad available. Aaron Ramsey put in an excellent display against the Canaries but he’s likely to be the one that makes way if Wenger brings Rosicky straight back in.

I’d like to see both Walcott and Podolski recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Gervinho and Olivier Giroud. Wenger has hinted he’s been working with Podolski at a central striker and I’d love to see him given a go through the middle, but in all likelihood the German will probably miss out with Giroud preferred due to his physical presence -which could be useful against Everton.

So this would be MY line-up, but don’t be surprised to see Giroud and possibly Ramsey start ahead of Podolski and Ramsey.

Predicted Score

Arsenal have won 8 of the last 11 meetings with Everton, drawing the other three, and they haven’t beaten us since 2007. But they are always a tough side to play and give very little away so it’s likely to be a close game tonight. I’m going to back the boys to do the business and cement our third place position. Arsenal 2-1 Everton

What would your line-up be and whats your predicted score for the game? Get involved in the comments section below.