What: English Premier League
Who: Everton vs Arsenal
When: Sunday, 6th April 2014, at 13:30 UK Time
Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England
Golden Chance For Toffees
Everton have a real shot at staking claim for fourth place in the Premier League if they can defeat Arsenal on Sunday at Goodison Park. Robert Martinez’s side are four points behind their north London rivals, but they also have a game in hand meaning victory against the Gunners would allow Everton to control their destiny with regards to finishing fourth in the league and earning a Champions League berth.
The Merseysiders have already picked up their best points haul (60) after 31 matches in their history and there is growing belief that seven games on Everton could be celebrating a most unlikely Champions League spot. The schedule remains very difficult down the stretch for the club, but Martinez expressed his view on Friday that if nothing else his side have earned the right to believe.
“What we’ve achieved so far is the opportunity to fight for a top four finish”, said the 40-year-old Spaniard. “That’s an incredible achievement. Looking at the stats they reflect that every year it is harder to finish in the top four. In our league it becomes harder season after season to reach fourth place.”
Picking Up The Pieces
Arsenal’s title challenge looks dead and buried, but there is still plenty to play for as the season winds down. A semi-final place in the FA Cup has given rise to the hope that the club’s long-standing trophy drought will finally come to an end this season. For financial and prestige considerations though, qualifying for the Champions League is crucial. The Gunners will like their chances with only Everton their main opposition for fourth at the moment.
Arsene Wenger reiterated this week that he still believes his team have an outside chance at the title. Wenger said: "For us it is an opportunity to go up forward and as well an opportunity to make a distance with Everton of course. It is both.
"The target is to finish as high as possible. Where that will be at the moment I must say, behind us will depend only on our results. In front of us will depend on our results and the results on the other teams, so that's impossible to predict.”
A season that once promised so much has been derailed again for the Gunners due to some poor results in the big matches and a lengthy injury list. Securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and lifting the FA Cup would at least allow the club to declare this season a success, even if it did promise much more.
Recent form
Everton:
Everton 3-2 Swansea (22/03; Premier League)
Newcastle 0-3 Everton (25/03; Premier League)
Fulham 1-3 Everton (30/03; Premier League)
Arsenal:
Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal (22/03; Premier League)
Arsenal 2-2 Swansea (25/3; Premier League)
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester City (29/03; Premier League)
Key absences
Everton: Phil Jagielka; Steven Pienaar; Lacina Traore; Bryan Oviedo; Arouna Kone; Darron Gibson
Arsenal: Kieran Gibbs (doubt); Mesut Ozil; Laurent Koscielny; Serge Gnabry; Jack Wilshere; Theo Walcott; Abou Diaby
Players to watch
Everton – Romelu Lukaku: The big Belgian has been a hit at Goodison Park this season. Now the question has shifted to whether Lukaku will remain with the Toffees next season. Chelsea, who own the player, will have a say, but now others such as Tottenham seem to be interested and Everton will have a real fight on their hands to keep their talisman who has scored twelve Premier League goals this campaign. A Champions League spot would put them in pole position to do just that.
Arsenal – Aaron Ramsey: The Welsh midfielder looks set to return against Everton and that would mark his first appearance for the Gunners in 2014 after finishing last year with an injury. After beginning the season in amazing form, Ramsey’s injury took the gloss off of a career-defining season. Arsenal’s own troubles coincided with Ramsey’s layoff and Wenger believes that the return of his influential midfielder could keep the Gunners on course to finish the campaign strongly.
Match Prediction
Everton haven’t beaten Arsenal in over seven years, however they will fancy their chances of ending that run on Sunday. The Toffees have a fantastic opportunity to not only defeat the Gunners, but play themselves into fourth place over the coming weeks and hold their own destiny. Certainly the absence of some key personnel will affect them, but the mood around Goodison is that an upset is very much on the cards. Arsenal meanwhile have turned the corner according to their manager. After leading the title race for much the season a fourth place finish doesn’t seem too attractive, however it is vital that Arsenal qualify for the Champions League next season. They too have injury concerns and the squad’s mental toughness will be put to the test again in a tough away fixture. Everton should come out on fire and though Arsenal will believe they can pick up the three points look for Martinez’s men to spring a surprise. Everton 2-1 Arsenal.
Betting on Everton v Arsenal? Make sure you read our betting preview first!
