Everton v Arsenal: the predictions, the stats and the teams

By Bulldog Drummond

After a poor run of form in January, Everton have picked up of late…

Those three defeats in February made things look pretty awful at Goodison, but since then three wins, one defeat and one draw has improved the league standing with Everton now 10th, some 20 points behind Arsenal.

But for a game like this what makes for interesting reading is Everton’s home form against Arsenal’s away form.

Here is the home form table

Seven wins, four draws and five defeats for Everton with a goal difference of +2.

Now Arsenal’s away form…

For Arsenal to have a better away form than Everton’s home form, Arsenal would have to win their two away games “in hand” against the rest of the pack.  But it is also interesting to note that if Arsenal did win these two away games they would be sixth in the away table – four points worse than Chelsea in fifth, but a major upgrade on the away form of last season.

But one thing to note is that Arsenal do score more goals away than Everton do at home (26 in 14 to Arsenal giving a rate of 1.86 goals a game.   Everton have scored 23 in 16 giving a rate of 1.44 per game).

However when we compare Arsenal from the start of February against the details above for Everton we find something rather interesting…

Everton have played one more league game than Arsenal in the period but Arsenal have played an extra four Europa games.

Taking the league games only Arsenal have won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1.  Everton have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 4 – those four defeats coming against Wolverhampton, Manchester City, Watford and Newcastle.

On those statistics I’d say an Arsenal victory is likely, but this is an away game for Arsenal, and that makes me a lot less certain.

On the injury front, aside from the three players out for the rest of the season, the suggestion is that Ramsey, Koscielny and Xhaka could all be ready for the game.   Everton are expected to keep the starting XI that won last weekend, with Yerry Mina the only injury.   For Arsenal Lucas Torreira suspended.

If Arsenal do win it will be five consecutive defeats of Everton, and 98 wins overall for Arsenal against Everton in league matches – an all time record.   The 107 goals Arsenal have scored against Everton is also a league record.

As for Everton they have yet to go three games in a row without conceding this season, and only twice won two games in a row this season.   They were on a run of 25 games against the “big six” clubs but beating Chelsea in their last home match brought that run to an end.

For Arsenal the big problem is that they have not once had an away match without letting in a goal, and if they concede this time that will make it 15 league games in a row in which a goal has been conceded.  The first time this has happened in the Premier League era.

Worse still for Arsenal, Arsenal have not beaten a team in the top half of the league away from home this season.

So now could be a good time to start.

Here is the team selected by the Evening Standard

Leno

 Koscielny, Sokratis, Monreal,

Maitland Niles,  Kolasinac

Xhaka, Guendouzi

Iwobi, Aumbameyang, Ozil