Everton vs Arsenal
Match Preview
Sean Dyche takes charge of his first Everton match after succeeding Frank Lampard earlier this week
Sean Dyche’s tenure as Everton manager begins tomorrow with one of the most difficult assignments possible as the Blues welcome League leaders Arsenal to Goodison Park for the lunchtime kick off.
Less than a week into the job, having succeeded Frank Lampard last Monday, Dyche is tasked with lifting a group of players that hasn’t won a match since 22 October, and comes into the weekend joint bottom of the Premier League with just 15 points and three wins.
Dyche will look to leverage all of the experience he gained from battling relegation in the past with Burnley, and will draw on the precedent of having saved the Clarets from a very similar situation four seasons ago.
Burnley had just 12 points from 19 games after Christmas in 2018 but rallied impressively over the second half of the campaign to finish comfortably in 15th Place.
Dyche had the benefit of a tight group and a culture that had been built up over many years at Turf Moor. At Everton, he comes into a dressing room low on morale and short on numbers, although the new boss might use that to his advantage in trying to create a siege mentality over the final 18 matches.
He faces injury concerns from the outset with Ben Godfrey, Michael Keane and Nathan Patterson ruled out through injury and both James Garner and Andros Townsend still some way from making their respective returns as well.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, however, is fit to line up in a side that is expected to lean heavily on his aerial prowess and physicality at the top end of the pitch.
Dyche’s preference for a 4-4-2 formation could also benefit Neal Maupay who has struggled to make an impact since arriving from Brighton in the summer and who has started just two games since the return after the mid-season break for the World Cup.
At the back, Seamus Coleman and Vitalii Mykolenko are good bets to start in the full-back roles and, should Dyche go 4-4-2, it remains to be seen if he goes with Conor Coady alongside his former charge, James Tarkowski, or opts for Yerry Mina’s height and threat from set-pieces.
Arsenal are still without Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson, Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe while Thomas Partey will undergo a late fitness test on a rib complaint but deadline-day signing Jorginho could step straight into the side.
Mikel Arteta’s team are in daunting form and are unbeaten in the League since losing to Manchester United 3-1 way back in September. Since then they have won five of six away from home, with only Southampton denying them all three points in a 1-1 draw on 23 October.
Having no doubt seen how open and defensively vulnerable Everton were under Lampard, Dyche’s first priority will be to make the Blues hard to beat and to use the power of the home crowd to make life difficult for the Gunners who are coming off a 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend.
Goodison has not been a happy hunting ground for Arsenal in recent seasons. Since heralding the end of Ronald Koeman’s reign as Toffees boss in October 2017, the North Londoners have been beaten three times — including that terrific win in December 2021 — and have been held to a goalless draw; Dyche will be hoping to get off to the perfect start by ensuring that Everton remain a bogey team for Arteta’s men.
Kick-off: 12:30pm, Satuday 4 February 2023
Referee: David Coote
VAR: John Brooks
Last Time: Everton 2 - 1 Arsenal
Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Coleman, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko, Gueye, Onana, Iwobi, Gray, Maupay, Calvert-Lewin
Reader Comments (49)
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2 Posted 04/02/2023 at 00:17:33
As long as the 12th man is on form I think we can get something out of this but it will be tough.
4 Posted 04/02/2023 at 01:00:34
5 Posted 04/02/2023 at 01:41:59
6 Posted 04/02/2023 at 02:18:13
However, football is a funny game and although we have nothing to laugh about we do have a new manager who may just get something a little more than we have seen over the last few months.
Certainly the City game showed they can show some defensive mettle so why not this game against the Gunners.
God knows they are due another decent performance with something at the end of it.
C.O.Y.B.
7 Posted 04/02/2023 at 02:20:24
8 Posted 04/02/2023 at 03:27:07
COYB
9 Posted 04/02/2023 at 03:36:39
That weird Goodison News or whatever it's called had a title today suggesting Keane had been exiled along with Duke for falling out with Frank then the attached article had zero mention of Keane at all. Meanwhile the Echo said Dyche said all is forgiven and the exiled are back in the fold as Dyche himself posted on Twitter then they had a link to some random fans Twitter which said nothing of the sort. Moral of the story? Who knows what the hell is going on?!
10 Posted 04/02/2023 at 03:50:33
After all, David did slay Goliath !
11 Posted 04/02/2023 at 04:20:05
If they do bring back the Dodo, I want one as Chairman immediately. At least we'd have one brain cell in the building.
COYBs for Saturday. Right up the Arsenal !!
12 Posted 04/02/2023 at 05:14:02
Key for us are the up and coming home games against Leeds and Villa.
13 Posted 04/02/2023 at 05:47:12
14 Posted 04/02/2023 at 06:18:40
I wonder how they've moved on from the whole 'The fans are all thugs / Headlock-gate' narrative Bill put out.
Knowing some / most of them, it will be all Arsenal, 4 mins on us...and now an in depth preview of the rs game.
Anyway; we can win this and I've got 19/1 on 1-0.
15 Posted 04/02/2023 at 06:42:14
16 Posted 04/02/2023 at 06:55:56
This is the only website I comment on and take notice of given the knowledge of the contributors.
Although I have enquired to be considered for a position on the FAB for my sins!
Looking forward to the match today.
Spirit. Forever.
17 Posted 04/02/2023 at 07:22:50
18 Posted 04/02/2023 at 07:23:30
Even a team that is a League title favourite ( let's face it, they are and it's theirs to lose.) can have the odd bad hair day.
It's our job to make sure this is theirs.
19 Posted 04/02/2023 at 07:26:21
Good luck
20 Posted 04/02/2023 at 07:43:16
21 Posted 04/02/2023 at 07:48:32
22 Posted 04/02/2023 at 08:11:33
Arsenal are very good right now, I rarely watch a full match anymore but I enjoyed their performance against United, the other week, especially Obergaard, who never stops running (mostly forward) and never stops showing for the ball, and Saka, was like poetry in motion, whilst Thomas Partey, gave them a physical edge, in the engine room.
I'd try and match them by bringing Doucoure in from the cold, and if Onana, puts in a focused shift, and Gueye, is on top of his running game, then I don't see why not, especially if we can stay in the game, which might possibly allow the Goodison crowd, to slowly help swing the game Everton's way🤞
23 Posted 04/02/2023 at 08:26:33
Holgate
Mina
Tarkowski
Godfrey
Gana
Onana
Doucoure
Iwobi
Calvert-Lewin
Maupay
This isn't a game for a half-baked Gray, McNeil, or Mykolenko.
I expect he will start Coleman, McNeil and Gray.
24 Posted 04/02/2023 at 08:37:41
Pack the midfield? Not for me, Dyche wont do that.
4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1. Me, I'd go 4-4-1-1 with Calvert-Lewin behind Gray running onto the flick ons, Iwobi & McNeil wide and Gueye marking Odegaard, he's the key for Arsenal. Our midfield will be a lot more compact.
But... It's probably why I'm not a football coach!
COYB's!!!
25 Posted 04/02/2023 at 08:59:16
If we play well but lose to a side who could well go on to win the title, then we can take some solace. However, I would rather just see total committment to the cause and a point (or three).
Let's see if Sean Dyche can get more out of the group than his predecessor.
26 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:10:30
I'm tired, I'm aching, I've had about 4 hours sleep, but I'm sure I will feel like a teenager, once again, in a few hours time. Football is a game of skill, but it's also a game of fight!
27 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:10:49
0-0
Get in👊
I'd play a diamond formation for the 3 keepers
28 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:12:33
I want to see a good shape, hard work, plenty of balls forward to Calvert-Lewin and bodies in support of him too. Joe Royle wrote the blueprint many years ago. Let's get a headed goal from a corner. COYB
29 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:13:13
“After tomorrow, from the bottom of my heart I wish them all the very best, but we are looking to get something at Everton this time. "Especially because of the years that I had there, the gratitude I feel towards the club, the love I feel towards the club. I hope they can turn this around in the best possible way because [to] everybody who has feelings for Everton they are unique and very special and they deserve the best
30 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:14:06
Any way. I know we will be more organised and we will see more effort than under Lampard.
COYBB / UTFT.
31 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:17:14
32 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:18:12
Pickford
Holgate, Mina, Tarkowski, Mykoklenko
Iwobi, Onana, Gueye, Gray
Calvert-Lewin, Maupay or Simms
Optimistically, a point; realistically, just an improvement in attitude and commitment and not embarrassed with the result.
33 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:25:03
COYB!! Believe!
34 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:29:30
Calvert-Lewin will probably put in a good performance due to his desire to get a previous move away from Everton to Arsenal.
Hope the boys can raise their game today and start a revolution.
COYBs
35 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:39:39
I finally got on the move. Euston was a nightmare this morning but I persevered and am on my way.
I almost considered a train to Manchester and then a taxi, but I'm inbound.
Here we go.
36 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:44:47
37 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:45:02
My concern is our bench – we can't change it up and with 5 subs, we are criminally short of in-game options. I think that will be our undoing today and in other games too, but survival is possible – 6 wins, 3 draws and 9 defeats from 18 gives us 36 points – I'd take that now and think if we can get it, it'll be just enough. In fact, I'd take last game of the season – probably one of the 6 or 7 we'll need.
38 Posted 04/02/2023 at 09:50:38
39 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:17:41
40 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:18:30
Uncle Alisher never had anything to do with Everton's finances. SShhhhhh
41 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:20:18
Then, precisely 7 days later, we beat defending Champions Man City 2-0 despite playing the last the 30 minutes or so with 10 men!!
Typical Everton...we can't handle being Favourites but just love to be the Underdog. Especially at Goodison.
42 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:21:39
Playing top of the league and form table against bottom of the league form table.
I am not expecting anything other than fight and hunger. Over the years usually 1 team throws the towell in and ends up adrift and relegated early. I want to see a reaction to the new manager.
We won't have any other choice but to sit deep due to Arsenal's quality. I want us to pack the midfield and make it hard for them. This season we have been wide open in most games. Get back to basics and close the spaces down.
Pickford
Godfrey, Tark, Coady, Myko
Doucs Gana Iwobi Onana Gray
DCL
I would put Gana man marking Odegard and Iwobi on jorghino.
Coyb.
43 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:22:30
They'll go 2 up, we'll get one back at 2-1, push for an equaliser and lose 3-1. Maybe even 4-1. This Arsenal side is streets ahead of us. There's a good reason they're top and only lost one game all season.
44 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:36:48
the key unknowable at this point is how the players have taken to Dyche and his methods. You can give all the great PCs in the world, but if the players don't like you youre stuffed. this will be new for SD. In the past his squads for most of the time have all been his boys. Now, hardly any of them are. I think the defence will love it, but the midfield and forwards not so much. If Gana Onana and DCL don't want to cover those hard yards, and he can't get in their heads to convince them, we've got a big problem.
45 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:41:55
I agree, 442 with Iwobi wide right and McNeil wide left. It will be interesting to see who is up front with DCL. I'd love to see Simms be given the gig but could be Gray or Maupay most likely. The defence kind of picks itself but SD might like Yerry's in yer face attitude which he might not know lasts about 17mins until he tweaks something.
I can accept defeat, I can't accept a lacklustre performance with no fight.
46 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:42:36
Also I'm not sure Gray works hard enough to play wide midfielder for Dyche. Perhaps he's more likely to start off DCL up front.
If fit I also think we'll see Godfrey at full back, could be either side.
A tough start but hopefully we'll see some fight, some team spirit and a better organised plan.
47 Posted 04/02/2023 at 10:42:50
Lots of different emotions, but still hopeful that we can get something out of this.
Think he will probably pack the midfield.
Pickford
Cody
Mina
Tarkowski
Awobi
Gana
Doucoure
Obama
Gray
Maupey
Calver Lewin.
COYB
49 Posted 04/02/2023 at 11:13:20
We're 13/2 to win. The inevitable shock league leader defeat? New manager bounce? Stranger things have happened...
50 Posted 04/02/2023 at 11:26:50
Danny O'Neill, did you get yourself sorted with a ticket mate ?
51 Posted 04/02/2023 at 11:38:55
Interesting if you haven't listened yet.
I can't make my mind up, if playing the league leaders is a positive or negative, probably edging on the former.
Hoping for a committed effort from the players picked to wear our shirt - don't give one fuck how we play if can get something from the game - it would a huge boost.
COYB.
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