Thomas Tuchel announced during the World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich yesterday that every England player will start with a clean slate under his leadership. Regarding Ben White, the German manager reportedly commented:
“Whether Ben White accepts the England call-up is uncertain, but I expect he will.”
It’s been a strong week for Arsenal in the Champions League. The men’s team secured a 3-0 victory against Monaco, while the women triumphed 3-1 over Valerenga in Oslo. With one game remaining, the women have already progressed to the next round but could top their group if they defeat Bayern Munich.
Meanwhile, the men still have work to do to secure their spot in the knockout stages, with fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb at The Emirates and Girona in Catalonia looming in late January.
Domestically, Mikel Arteta and his team now turn their attention to facing Everton at The Emirates. Everton, under Sean Dyche, had their match against Liverpool postponed last weekend due to bad weather, giving them an extended break—a potential blessing or a setback.
Arsenal has a rich history against Everton, with memorable matches such as the 1997/98 and 2004/05 encounters standing out. The 4-0 win in May 1998 crowned Arsenal Premier League champions under Arsène Wenger, punctuated by Tony Adams’ iconic moment. While not as legendary as the “it’s up for grabs now” commentary, Martin Tyler’s “would you believe it” still resonates.
May 2005 evokes different emotions for me. On holiday in St. Lucia, I couldn’t watch the match live. Late at night, I called home and learned of Arsenal’s 7-0 victory. When I asked who scored, my mother simply replied, “everyone.” That joy remains an unforgettable memory.
Much has changed at Arsenal since those days, especially after the Invincibles squad began to disband following that season.
In March of last season, Arsenal demolished Sean Dyche’s team 4-0. Gabriel Martinelli scored twice, with Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard also finding the net, putting Arsenal five points clear at the top. However, things unraveled soon after, much like how this season could unravel for Liverpool, Chelsea, or even Manchester City. Nothing in football—or sport—is certain until the final whistle.
The focus now must remain on the present, with hopes that rivals encounter poor form along the way.
In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Arteta was asked about the fitness of Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of the Everton game. True to form, Arteta gave little away, speaking vaguely as usual, which is understandable before a match.
Everton has had a rollercoaster December. After a 4-0 loss to Manchester United, they responded with their own 4-0 win over Wolves at Goodison Park, thanks to two own goals and strikes from Young and Mangala. Despite this, they remain near the bottom of the table.
Arsenal, on the other hand, is in good form, unbeaten since November 2nd with three wins and two draws against Chelsea and Fulham. To maintain momentum and keep title hopes alive, a win against Everton is crucial. A draw would be disappointing, and a loss could be catastrophic for catching Liverpool.
Adrian Clarke writing in the official matchday programme:
Everton line up in a 4-2-3-1 for every match, but without the ball they morph into a compact 5-4-1. This will be frequent as they only average 40% of possession, the second-lowest total in the division, so breaking down their stubborn resistance by finding space in crowded areas will be key.
The Toffees, and Jordan Pickford in particular, hit the ball long towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin who is a terrific outlet, winning more aerial duels than any other top-flight striker. He has helped Everton complete 26.8 long balls each game – the highest number of successful long passes, while no Premier League side is more accurate with their crosses in open play (27%).
Everton are abrasive and aggressive in their duels. Wide forwards Dwight McNeil and Iliman N’Diaye set the tone, working hard to press opponents, while at the back James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite are dominant figures who love to repel crosses. They are a superb set-piece outfit, and all four of their goals against Wolves came from dead-ball situations.
In open play though, Everton are not as creative as they would like, scoring just six times. Their defending has also been fragile and they can crumble, shipping four goals against Tottenham and Manchester United, and three apiece in matches against Brighton, Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
I didn’t expect anything new from a Sean Dyche team: hardworking, defensively solid, but lacking creativity. Despite having two strong central defenders, they still concede plenty of goals. Hopefully, Mikel Arteta’s players come out of the blocks quickly, exploit their fragile defense, and stay clinical in front of goal. I’ve never been particularly fond of Everton, regardless of their connection to Arsenal’s history. So, while I won’t need to call home for the result this time, I’d love for it to mirror the emphatic outcome of 2005 if I had to.
