Preview: Everton v. Arsenal

Fabregas picks up Arsenal's fourth of six goals at Goodison Park last year. Pic via Daily Mail.

Goodison Park, Liverpool

Sunday, November 14

14:00 GMT, 9:00 a.m. EDT

• Referee: Howard Webb
• This Match, Last Year: Everton 1 - 6 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 94 Arsenal wins, 58 Everton wins, 41 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: L-W-W-W-L-W
• Everton's Recent Form: W-W-D-W-D-D

Predicted Line-Up

guesses in red

Fabianski

Sagna - Djourou - Squillaci - Clichy

Song - Wilshere

Nasri - Fabregas - Arshavin

Chamakh

Subs from: Szczesny, Eboue, Denilson, Rosicky, Bendtner, Walcott, Van Persie

Suspended: Koscielny (second of two, professional foul + second red card of season)

Out: Gibbs (knee), Diaby (ankle), Almunia (elbow), Vermaelen (Achilles), Ramsey (broken leg)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Kieran Gibbs faces a fitness test, but could be available to make the trip to Liverpool.
• Still no word on how serious the set back is for Thomas Vermaelen's Achilles. There is a chance he's done for the year.
• Abou Diaby is undergoing a gradual fitness test and yesterday's start was positive.
• You know, ever since Lukasz Fabianski asserted himself, we've stopped hearing about Manuel Almunia's elbow altogether.
• Aaron Ramsey is about ready to spend a month or so getting back up to speed with the Reserves.
• Nicklas Bendtner and Robin van Persie will still be on the bench, but are not 100% fit.
• Arsenal have now twice this season failed to extend a three match winning streak in league play. Before losing against Newcastle, Arsenal previously drew at Sunderland after winning three in a row.
• Last year, Arsenal took all six points from matches played in Liverpool for the first time since 2001/02. This is a feat they already cannot duplicate this season, after drawing 1-1 at Anfield.

Everton News and Notes

• After being sent off against Bolton on Wednesday, Marouane Fellaini begins serving a three match ban. Good news for Arsenal in that it takes some punch away from the Toffees' midfield. Also, it would've been really weird to have two people named Marouane starting this match. His hair might be worse than Chamakh's!
• Victor Anichebe is close to a return from a knee injury, but Leon Osman (ankle) and Ross Barkley (leg) are long term absentees.
• After losing three of their first five matches, Everton are now unbeaten in seven league games.
• They are technically unbeaten in eight overall across all competitions, having drawn in the Carling Cup, though they lost to Brentford on penalties, so that's really only a draw for bookkeeping purposes.
• Since the start of last year, only Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle have won at Goodison Park in league play.

Match Facts

• Arsenal thrashed Everton 6-1 at Goodison Park in last season's opening day fixture, with Cesc Fabregas picking up a brace. Arsenal also picked up goals from Denilson, Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas, and Eduardo. Louis Saha pinged one back in the 90th.
• Arsenal trailed Everton twice at the Emirates in January, but battled back twice, and got an injury time equalizer from Tomas Rosicky to draw 2-2.
• The Toffees have not won in six tries against Arsenal (with two draws.) Their last win was by a 1-0 scoreline, at Goodison Park, on March 18, 2007. Andrew Johnson scored an injury time winner.

The Referee

• The referee is Howard Webb, who took charge of the World Cup Final, during which I think even I received a yellow card.
• He has not yet worked an Arsenal match this year. The last time Arsenal saw Webb was a 1-1 draw at Birmingham, which essentially ended Arsenal's legitimate title chase. He also worked both Arsenal wins over Liverpool.
• This is his third Everton match of the season. He previously took charge of their 0-0 draw at Fulham and their 2-0 derby win over Liverpool.

Around the League

• Saturday: Aston Villa v. Manchester United; Villa Park, Birmingham
• Saturday: Manchester City v. Birmingham City; City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
• Saturday: Newcastle United v. Fulham; St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
• Saturday: Tottenham Hotspur v. Blackburn Rovers; White Hart Lane, London
• Saturday: West Ham United v. Blackpool; Boleyn Ground, London
• Saturday: Wigan Athletic v. West Bromwich Albion; DW Stadium, Wigan
• Saturday: Wolverhampton Wanderers v. Bolton Wanderers; Molineux, Wolverhampton
• Saturday: Stoke City v. Liverpool; Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent
• Sunday: Chelsea v. Sunderland; Stamford Bridge, London