Arsenal head into Tuesday night’s game in fine form. Only Southampton have beaten them in any competition since the opening day of the season and that was in the EFL Cup. In the Premier League, it’s fourteen unbeaten and counting; away from home, they’ve won five and draw two so far with only Manchester United and Leicester City taking points off them.

Relatively unfancied before the start of the season, Arsène Wenger has honed his squad into an outstanding attacking force with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil taking the plaudits. And the warnings are there for Everton. West Ham United and FC Basel were thrashed with incisive displays and lethal finishing.

The Merseysiders began brightly under Ronald Koeman, winning four of the first five but recent form has dropped away. They haven’t won since beating West Ham 2 – 0 at Goodison Park and eleven goals in their last five.

Indeed, the Toffees win over the Hammers was their first since mid-September and the only one since. Whereas the need Goodison to be a fortress, it’s proving a graveyard for their ambitions but a win over Arsenal could reignite the fire of their season.

EVERTON

Everton’s poor form continued at Vicarage Road at the weekend, losing 2 – 3 to Watford.

Matters went from bad to worse in the lead up to that game when the full extent of Yannick Bolasie's injury suffered against Manchester United in their last home fixture, became apparent.

The winger, a hit with the Gwladys Street Stand since signing from Crystal Palace this summer, is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury in his knee. Having struck up a good partnership with Romelu Lukaku, it’s a massive blow but opens the door for Gerard Deulofeu.

Everton’s biggest problem is their reliance on Lukaku. With nine goals, he has scored almost half their goals and as many as the rest of the Everton squad put together in this season’s Premier League.

Until their recent dip in form, Lukaku was vying for the Premier League leading scorer with Diego Costa. Now, he has been overtaken by Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero. With no sign of reinforcements arriving this winter, the Belgian is going to have to continue with his goalscoring heroics to get Everton out of this rut.

Problematically for manager Ronald Koeman, his defence has proven leaky. Just three clean sheets all season and one since early September. In ten games, they’ve let in 17 goals, with confidence quickly sapping away.

They need to end their run but face Arsenal, Liverpool and a revitalised Leicester City in their next three games. It looks like the game against Hull City on 30th December offers them the first realistic chance of a clean sheet between now and the New Year.

ARSENAL

Just when things were going swimmingly, a storm cloud is forming on the Gunners horizon. German international Shkodran Mustafi pulled his hamstring against Stoke at the weekend and is set to miss the remaining games of 2016.

Arsène Wenger was philosophical about the injury with good reason. Hector Bellerin, the rising star of the Gunners defence, returned to first team action in Saturday’s 3 – 1 win and frees up Gabriel to partner Laurent Koscielny.

With Per Mertesacker still three weeks from returning, Wenger needs to keep Laurent Koscielny fit otherwise Rob Holding will be thrown in at the deep end with Per Mertesacker unlikely to return to the first team until the New Year.

At the other end of the pitch, Wenger has some interesting decisions to make. Alexis Sanchez has been instrumental in Arsenal’s nascent title challenge. The Chilean has 11 goals for the season with eight of them coming on his travels.

Arsenal’s counter-attacking style suits the double Copa America winner down to the ground and his combination with Mesut Özil has been phenomenal. The German has created four of Sanchez’s goals but Alexis has created five for the rest of his team-mates!

This has been a fixture which has suited Arsenal in recent years, winning eleven of these in the Premier League era. Even last year as they struggled for form, they won on this side of Stanley Park and there’s no doubt they will fancy their chances to emphasize this record.

FORM (Last six Premier League games)

Everton - WLDLDL

Arsenal - WDDWWW

STATS

• Everton have won 5, drawn 5, lost 5, scored 19 and conceded 19.
• Arsenal have come from behind to win on six occasions so far this season. 
• The Gunners have lost just 1 of their last nine at Goodison Park (W5, D3, L1)
• Everton have spent the most number of seasons in the top flight (113) while Arsenal have the longest uninterrupted run (90 seasons) 
• Romelu Lukaku is the second top scorer with headed goals in this season’s EPL (4)

Recommended Premier League Offer: Betting on Everton vs Arsenal? Claim this Everton vs Arsenal betting bonus from bet365! 

CURRENT MATCH ODDS [BEST PRICED ODDS]

Everton: 10/3 (Bet365) - Bet Here! Draw: 13/5 (Paddy Power) - Bet Here! Arsenal: 10/11 (Coral) - Bet Here!

HEAD TO HEAD

Last six meetings 

19/03/201 Premier League Everton 0 – 2  Arsenal

24/10/2015 Premier League Arsenal  2 – 1 Everton

01/03/2015 Premier League Arsenal 2 – 0 Everton

23/08/2014 Premier League Everton 2 – 2 Arsenal

06/04/2014 Premier League Everton  3 – 0  Arsenal

08/03/2014 FAC 6   Arsenal 4 – 1  Everton

SUMMING UP!

It’s genuinely difficult to make a case for Everton to win this match. Arsenal are rampant and their last two away matches at West Ham and Basel produced some of the best football you will see anywhere this season.

Arsène Wenger though has a thorny issue or two to deal with. With Manchester City on Sunday, dare he risk the mercurial Alexis Sanchez? There’s no doubt the talismanic Chilean is vital to the Gunners success but with Shkodran Mustafi missing already, will that serve as a reminder not to risk the striker?

If Olivier Giroud plays, Everton may take heart from the Frenchman’s inclusion. Even so, are they any better off if Alexis is on the bench? The Toffees need a big game from everyone to take the points but it’s hard to see that coming.

PREDICTION: Everton 1 – 3 Arsenal (15/1 with Bet Victor) - Bet Here!  

OTHER RECOMMENDED BETS

• Romelu Lukaku to score with a header (13/2 with Sky Bet) - Bet Here!
• Arsenal to win from behind (8/1 with Unibet) - Bet Here!
• Laurent Koscielny, anytime goalscorer (9/1 with Paddy Power) - Bet Here!
• Olivier Giroud / Mesut Özil, anytime goalscorer double (6/1 with William Hill) - Bet Here!
• Everton to lead at HT, Arsenal to win at FT (25/1 with Betfred) - Bet Here!

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