David back in defence as suspensions strike: What to expect when Arsenal face Everton


David Luiz

David back in defence as suspensions strike: What to expect when Arsenal face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday


By Adam Le Roux 

It’s the last weekend before Christmas, so that should mean plenty of festive cheer, but the cloud over this Arsenal team does not look to be lifting anytime soon. 

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Southampton made it one win in the last nine Premier League matches for the Gunners, meaning they aren’t likely to be singing carols and glugging the mulled wine anytime soon. 

This Saturday sees Mikel Arteta take his team to Merseyside to face Everton at Goodison Park, to kick off a seven-day stretch that could make or break his time as boss. 

With Manchester City and Chelsea on the horizon, getting three points this weekend will be crucial, but with the Toffees coming back into form ahead of this one, the Gunners could come unstuck against Carlo Ancelotti’s side. 

Gunners getting down to the bare bones

You can make up your own quips about Arsenal getting plenty of cards this Christmas, but the truth is the suspensions are mounting up, leaving the Gunners light on the ground at a crucial time of the season.

Gabriel was the latest player to be given his marching orders against Southampton in midweek, with the central defender dismissed after being shown two yellows in the space of five second-half minutes.

That means he will join Granit Xhaka on the sidelines for the trip to the north west, after the Gunners’ captain was shown a straight red card for grabbing Burnley’s Ashley Westwood by the throat in Sunday’s defeat to the Clarets. 

Gabriel

It will seemingly be one Brazilian for another at the heart of the Arsenal backline, with David Luiz set to deputise for his compatriot, although that isn’t a move that fills many Gooners with optimism, with the former-Chelsea man prone to dropping the odd clanger or two. 

In the centre of the park, Mohamed Elneny and Dani Ceballos look set to continue their partnership after a solid display against the Saints and will be tasked with keeping the effervescent Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure quiet for the hosts.

The lack of cover in the engine room is looking to be a cause for concern recently, with only Joe Willock available in reserve if changes are needed. Luiz has been used in the anchor role in the past, but the core of the Gunners’ team could be exposed by the free-flowing Everton side. 

Toffees are becoming familiar festive foes

It is almost a year to the day that Arsenal fans were last contemplating the trip to Goodison, with uncertainty hanging over the club after Unai Emery’s sacking, and Freddie Ljungberg the man in the dugout. 

Almost a year on, and very little has changed in terms of the mood around camp - in fact, it is probably worse than ever - and a repeat of the 0-0 draw from 363 days ago would likely be seen as a solid point by most supporters in the current climate. 

And that’s because the stats get more damning by the day; with only two goals in the last five away games, and the last two trips away from the Emirates seeing Arsenal draw a blank, resulting in seven points from a possible 18 on the road this season.

Alex Iwobi

And in Everton, they face a side who look back to their best, with victories over Chelsea and Leicester proving just why they were sat at the top of the league in the early stages of the season. 

With the return of Richarlison from suspension, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as clinical as ever, the Toffees have the weapons to expose the porous Arsenal backline, while ex-Gunner Alex Iwobi will be looking to get one over on his old side. 

And after Theo Walcott’s opening goal for Southampton in midweek, you wouldn’t put it past the Nigerian to find the net himself, as the curse of the ex-player destined to strike twice. 

The straw that breaks Kroenke’s back?

With the risk of sounding like a broken record, things need to change soon at the Emirates, before the Gunners fall so far down the slippery slope that things become unmanageable. 

Failure to beat Everton will make it one win in ten Premier League games, which is no longer a blip, it’s a major issue that needs resolving.

Whether it be the manager, or the players, something isn’t right at the club, and if the results continue the way they have been, the double-header against Brighton and West Brom over new year are looking more and more like relegation six-pointers...

Mikel Arteta

It is a few days shy of a year since Mikel Arteta took over the club, when Arsenal fans were full of joy and optimism about what ‘the next Pep Guardiola’ was going to bring, and the philosophies he would instil, but we are still yet to see that flourish. 

The current boss has been given the vote of confidence from the powers above after the recent run of form, but we all know that can just be a lot of hot air, with opinions turning quicker than Mesut Ozil if the boardroom wants a change. 

Patience is a long-forgotten thing in the world of football, but love him or hate him, Stan Kroenke seems to be a man that has a lot of it, but at what cost does that have to the football club? 

But last year shows he is no stranger to giving managers the boot in the festive period, and if we see another dismal performance on Saturday, could Arteta be following Emery out the door sooner than expected?

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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