Arsenal bungle Fulham with Everton coming to fractured Emirates

Arsenal left points for the taking once again against Fulham over the weekend. Now, with the fallout over the owner’s dream Super League ambitions clouding the air, they must welcome the Toffees to the Emirates. Everton will hardly be an easier sight than Fulham was, and they have as much to play for as Arsenal themselves, if not more.

The Fulham affair was just the latest example of lackluster performances against lesser opposition in key moments; these types of matches have doomed the days of Arsenal across this season, and reared its loathsome head once again.

It is lucky for Arsenal, as it was for Everton, that so many other games of importance also ended favorably with draws or losses. Against the Toffees, however, they need three points in the worst way, as do the visitors. This is not the best circumstance for Arsenal to be in.

This is a massive matchup for both clubs, a massive week in general for both clubs, even before the Super League, the hubbub, the protests, the fallout, the statements and the matches. A win is necessary by both clubs, yet achievable by only one. A draw is as useless as a loss for either.

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Toffees and Gunners: Friday means a lot in so many ways to Arsenal

For me, as a writer covering both clubs extensively, I find this to be a difficult matchup to call. The consistent inconsistencies, as I’ve labeled them, plague both of the clubs I write, at least for this season. They have both shown out against higher end teams, while falling flat against others of lesser calibre more times than not.

And so I am torn; who might win? Either has a fair shot, but were I to have to choose, I would say that Everton have a really good chance away from Goodison Park. Arsenal have simply been too on and off to put a great deal of trust on currently, at least outside of the Europa League, yet it is equally true that, since I’ve now said this all, that Arsenal will come out and simply beat the boots off of the Blues of Merseyside.

It is not possible to know of course, yet Arsenal will have to show not only me something, but the fans and supporters across the world. While the schedule of the assorted competitions have done the Gunners no favors this season, much like their form in the Premier League at times, the owner of the club has left the team in an even less enviable position after his botched European Super League venture.