Match Preview: Arsenal vs. Everton

Ross Barkley, Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Fresh off an uplifting victory at Old Trafford on Wednesday, Everton Football Club will enter The Emirates looking for a win, not just a result. Seven points behind Arsenal, the Toffees want to establish themselves as Premier League title contenders under new manager Roberto Martinez, not merely a squad that challenges for a top-four finish. Lately, the electric play of Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku and Leighton Baine’s replacement Bryan Oviedo have boosted the club, who will wish to level Liverpool and Chelsea at 30 points by Sunday night, four behind pacesetters Arsenal.

For Arsenal, this match presents a fantastic opportunity. With Chelsea losing 3-2 at Stoke City and Manchester City settling for a point at Southampton Saturday, the Gunners can create a seven-point separation at the top of the table. A win at home will take work,  however, as Everton have routinely shown creativity in midfield and attacking with Lukaku, James McCarthy, Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu, Ross Barkley and Steven Pienaar.

This should really be an entertaining and competitive match, a measuring stick for Everton and an essential opportunity for Arsenal to separate some ground in the ever-compelling Barclays Premier League.

Injury Notes:

-Leighton Baines will be absent, still 3-4 weeks away from return with a broken toe

-Everton centre-half  Antolin Alcaraz could make his first appearance of the season, travelling with the squad to London

-Bacary Sagna has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury and will not feature

Match Notes:

-Everton have not beaten Arsenal in 12 matches, since March 2007 at Goodison Park

-The squads drew both games in the 2012/13 season: 1-1 at Goodison in November, and 0-0 at The Emirates in April