Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton - Premier League

  • Arsenal visit Goodison Park for the very last time on Saturday
  • Gunners without Gabriel for rest of the season
  • Mikel Arteta confirmed that two defenders could feature
Arsenal visit Goodison Park for the last time this weekend
Arsenal visit Goodison Park for the last time this weekend | GLYN KIRK/GettyImages

Eyes will doubtlessly be cast towards Real Madrid's visit on Tuesday, but Arsenal still have a job to do on their final trip to Goodison Park.

Until the Premier League title is mathematically out of reach, Mikel Arteta's side will continue to fight on the domestic front. It's going to take a seismic Liverpool collapse for the Gunners to even have a sniff, but Arsenal can't simply give up with eight games of the season remaining.

While the first leg with the Champions League holders is the club's priority, Arteta won't be making wholesale changes to his starting XI on Saturday. Although, injuries mean a couple of switches are inevitable.

Here's how Arsenal could line up at Everton this weekend.


Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Everton (4-3-3)

Bukayo Saka
The project's yours, sweet prince | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - Raya must've been really hacked off with the way Arsenal conceded on Tuesday night, further compromising his Golden Glove pursuit. His aerial and sweeping abilities will be put to the test by a direct Everton side.

Jurrien Timber (RB) - Timber is an injury doubt heading into the game, but Arteta suggested the Dutchman has a chance to play on Saturday. I think he gets an hour, and hopefully, we see a bit of Ben White.

William Saliba (CB) - They're dropping like flies around him, but Saliba, for now, has stood firm and avoided a notable injury setback.

Jakub Kiwior (CB) - This is a huge game for Kiwior, who has big boots to fill with Gabriel out for the rest of the season. A strong showing here, and he may well find himself in Tuesday's starting XI.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB) - Lewis-Skelly has climbed above Riccardo Calafiori in the depth chart, and the Italian remains out of action due to a knee injury.


Midfielders

Jorginho (DM) - Thomas Partey is likely to start in the first leg, so I wouldn't be surprised if Arteta makes a switch at the base of midfield. Although, I'd have some issues with starting Jorginho, given the nature of this Toffees outfit.

Declan Rice (CM) - If Jorginho gets the nod, Rice has an even more important role to play in helping Arsenal match Everton physically in midfield.

Martin Odegaard (CM) - Odegaard produced a couple of nice moments in the week but nothing more. These typically haven't been the contests he's thrived in, with Everton bound to rough the skipper up.


Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) - He's desperate for more minutes, and Arteta must be tempted to start Saka after he celebrated his return to action with a goal off the bench against Fulham. Go on, give him an hour.

Mikel Merino (ST) - Merino scored again in the week, and his goal record while functioning as the club's makeshift #9 is genuinely impressive. He'll start again on Saturday but has his work cut out against two man mountains in the hosts' defence.

Leandro Trossard (LW) - Gabriel Martinelli was excellent against Fulham, and I think Arteta will want to save him for Tuesday. Trossard is less likely to feature in the Champions League tie, so he should get the bulk of the minutes down the left at Goodison. He scored the winner here last season.


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