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Match preview - Everton vs. Arsenal - Toffees hope to overcome Lescott distraction
The first ever match between these two sides was in 1905 with Everton picking up a 1-0 home win, however they go into this game against Arsenal with history against them, with the all-time league head-to-head results between the two reading - Everton 54 wins, Arsenal 85 wins and 37 draws. In more recent times the Gunners have had good results against the Toffees with their last defeat coming in the 2006/07 season, with this fixture at Goodison Park over the past two seasons having seen a 1-1 draw and a 4-1 win for Arsenal. Everton have picked up just two wins in pre-season, compared to Arsenal’s four and will hope that the Joleon Lescott saga does not disrupt their players on the opening day of the season.
Everton - David Moyes has managed to take Everton from relegation candidates to a solid top ten club, with justifiable ambitions for regular European qualification. They play tidy compact football with an exceptionally solid defensive base, while the midfield possesses the big threats of Steven Pieenar and TimCahill. Louis Saha will also start and will hope to carry on where he left off after his well taken goal against Malaga last week. Moyes will look to hassle Arsenal’s creative players and stop them from threatening the goal, before attempting to snatch a goal from a set-piece or by exploiting the Gunners' potentially wobbly defence. Lescott should start after appearing in their last friendly, despite his desire to leave. Jo and Marouane Fellaini will hope to shake off an ankle knock and virus respectively and take their places in match day squad.
24 Howard
2 Hibbert - 5 Lescott - 18 Neville - 3 Baines
21 Osman - 26 Rodwell - 17 Cahill - 20 Pienaar
25 Fellaini
8 Saha
Arsenal - The Gunners have a slight doubt over the fitness of new signing Thomas Vermaelen, who has a hamstring injury while Rosicky may be out for around four weeks. Aside from these worries, Arsene Wenger's men will go into the fixture off the back of an encouraging pre-season that saw the hype around Jack Wilshere raise a further few notches after a string of dazzling displays. He will probably not start on Saturday but do not be surprised to see him feature at some point during the 90 minutes. Arsenal played a slightly different formation against Valencia in their last friendly so expect to see the same 4-3-3 formation against Everton, as the youthful midfield hopes to confound critics and prove Wenger's transfer policy right.
1 Almunia
27 Eboue - 10 Gallas - 5 Vermaelen - 22 Clichy
4 Fabregas - 17 Song - 2 Diaby
26 Bendtner - 11 van Persie - 23 Arshavin
This will be a tough opening test for both teams, Everton are one of a number of clubs that could lay claim to the coveted fourth spot in the Premier League and given that Arsenal are the ones that have occupied it most recently it is they that sides such as the Toffees will be gunning for. This match could well signal whether or not Arsenal have enough about them to hold off the would-be challengers, as well as showing whether Everton have what it takes to make the step up. The match should be an entertaining one and if Arsenal are in the mood, there are only a handful of teams that can resist them. Everton’s strong defence should make for an exciting tactical encounter between Moyes and Wenger, but if Wenger's men turn up and play the way we all know they can, Everton will be up against it. Although, Moyes' persistent and dogged troops have a knack of making it difficult for its opponents, so if Arsenal aren't ready for the battle, we may just see an opening day surprise.
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