Premier League | Gameweek 31

Apr 5, 2025 at 12.30pm UK

Goodison Park

Everton vs Arsenal

Match preview

On a day when several former Gooners - Emile Smith-Rowe, Bernd Leno, Willian and Alex Iwobi - returned to their old stomping grounds, it was another returning Gunner who set the Emirates alight in Arsenal's London derby with Fulham.

After emergency number nine Mikel Merino had broken the deadlock with a fortuitous deflection, Bukayo Saka - making his first appearance of 2025 after recovering from a serious hamstring injury - headed home six minutes after coming on, before sharing a heart-warming embrace with Arsenal's strength and conditioning coach.

Saka's close-range effort proved crucial as Rodrigo Muniz's last-gasp consolation wiped out Arsenal's clean sheet but not their three points, as they maintained their four-point lead over Nottingham Forest in the silver medal position.

It is surely only a matter of time before Arsenal's Premier League title chances are mathematically over, but Arteta's men should not now lose their iron grip on Champions League football, which will take some of the pressure off their upcoming double-header with Real Madrid.

Before thoughts turn to the Bernabeu, Arsenal will be looking to extend their unbeaten away run in the Premier League to a commendable 11 games, but whether in red or blue, Merseyside has long been one of the visitors' least favourite venues.

Of Arsenal's last 26 Premier League away games against Everton and Liverpool combined, the Gunners have won just three, a statistic that Moyes will be pleased with as the master tries to outwit the student at his soon-to-be former home.

The fire will no doubt be burning brightly in Everton's bellies, too, after their nine-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end in Wednesday's agonising 1-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool, although they were fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men for James Tarkowski's appalling challenge on Alexis Mac Allister.

Regardless, the Toffees departed with their first top-flight defeat since January 15 - a run of five Premier League games without a win, following four successive draws - but the 15th-placed hosts remain a healthy 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

As inspiring as Moyes' return has been, the Toffees have been a little out of sorts defensively and Diogo Jota's winner for Liverpool in midweek means that Everton have now conceded at least one goal in each of their last eight games in all competitions and six of their last seven at home.

The Merseyside outfit also suffered a 1-0 defeat when Arsenal visited Goodison in 2023-24 - a result that ended a five-match unbeaten home run against the Gunners - but after a 0-0 draw at the Emirates in December, the Toffees have now kept clean sheets in both league meetings with Arsenal in a single season for the first time in 112 years.

Recent Performance

Everton Premier League form:DWDDDD

Arsenal Premier League form:WLDDWW

Arsenal form (all competitions):DWDDWW

Team News

In keeping with the theme of Arsenal's season, Saka's return came with the caveat of three new absentees: Ben White was ruled out with a niggle before the Fulham win, while Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Jurrien Timber (knee) were injured in the derby.

With Gabriel now ruled out for the rest of the season, Jakub Kiwior looks set for a rare start at full-back, while Thomas Partey returns at right-back.

Riccardo Calafiori (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Gabriel Jesus (ACL) and Kai Havertz (hamstring) also remain in the Arsenal hospital room, but after coming through 30 minutes unscathed in midweek, Saka is now in contention for his first start of the season.

On the Everton side, Tarkowski should be suspended for this game after the PGMOL ruled that his tackle on Mac Allister was a red card, but the former Burnley man is fit to take his place in the line-up.

That is more than can be said for Orel Mangala (knee), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh) and Dwight McNeil (knee), but key attacker Iliman Ndiaye is back in contention and enjoyed a second-half cameo in the defeat at Liverpool.

Ndiaye for Harrison in the final third should be considered by Moyes, but otherwise the Everton boss should stick to his guns and resist the temptation to play a five-man defence.

Possible starting lineup

Everton possible starting lineup:

Pickford; O'Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye, Garner; Ndiaye, Doucoure, Alcaraz; Beto

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Martinelli