Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Arsenal Vs Everton: 5 key players to watch — Debuts galore

By Andrew Dowdeswell

SWANSEA, WALES - JANUARY 30: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal is being substituted for Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on January 30, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
SWANSEA, WALES - JANUARY 30: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal is being substituted for Mohamed Elneny of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Swansea City and Arsenal at Liberty Stadium on January 30, 2018 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
GENK, BELGIUM – JULY 22: Jordan Pickford celebrates Everton’s first goal during the Pre-Season Friendly between KRC Genk and Everton at Cristal Arena on July 22, 2017 in Genk, Belgium (Photo by Andy Astfalck/Getty Images)
GENK, BELGIUM – JULY 22: Jordan Pickford celebrates Everton’s first goal during the Pre-Season Friendly between KRC Genk and Everton at Cristal Arena on July 22, 2017 in Genk, Belgium (Photo by Andy Astfalck/Getty Images) /

4. Jordan Pickford

Arsenal have a tendency of facing goalkeepers who are in top form. I do not know why. I do not know how. But opposing keepers often seem to up their game against the Gunners, moulding into some Stretch Armstrong-type hero, saving everything that comes their way. Remember David de Gea?

And, in very much the same vein, it would not be surprising to see Jordan Pickford take on that same superhero status on Saturday. He certainly has the talent for it. Of keepers who have played 20 or more league games this season, Pickford has made the fifth-most saves-per-game, at 3.2. Additionally, he has made the most saves-per-game from shots within the six-yard box, at 0.3, portraying his outstanding reflexes, producing several astonishing reactionary saves throughout the year.

Furthermore, in the reverse fixture earlier in the year, a game that Arsenal dismantled Everton to the tune of a 5-2 scoreline, Pickford made an incredible nine saves. It is not inconceivable that he could have a similar performance at the Emirates. If Everton are to sneak a draw or even a win, with Arsenal’s attacking firepower, you imagine that he would have to.

Home/Arsenal News