Written by The Arsenal Kid.
After a hard fought mid-week victory away to Wolves, the Gunners travelled up the M6 for a visit to Goodison Park. Last year, we gave the home team a 6-1 thumping on the opening day of the season but I don’t think it would be that easy again this time around.
Although we prevailed 2-0 against Wolves, the victory was anything but easy. Mick McCarthy’s team was well organized in defence and harassed our players all over the pitch. They could have easily gotten back into the game but for the brilliance of Fabianski in the match.
This game against Everton will most likely be more of the same. However, we know that David Moyes’s side is a technically capable team and would have a go at Arsenal. This would create an open game, very suitable for our players to take advantage of the situation. Everton home form is pretty good and they have not lost since going down to Newcastle in September. They have the majority of their players back from injury with the midfield of Arteta, Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov and Seamus Coleman looking particularly threatening.
With the Gunners not firing on all cylinders, this is going to be a tough match. I expect the manager to make a few chances to the first eleven that took to the field at Molineaux. I do expect Arshavin to be benched for Samir Nasri, with Rosicky and Walcott swapping places as well. The midfield trio of Wilshere, Song and Fabregas will most likely be retained although all three didn’t give their best performances against Wolves. Wilshere in particular looked a bit leggy while Fabregas looks like he is still finding his way on the pitch.
Upfront, Chamakh is grabbing the goals that will keep him in the team but don’t be surprise if Arsene starts Robin Van Persie from the first whistle. The Dutchman is back and we definitely need him to be at his best if we are going to go back to London with all three points.
