Match Preview: Arsenal vs Everton - FA Cup 08.03.14

After Saturday’s depressing loss to Stoke, our hopes for Prem glory have taken a bit of a knock, to put it mildly, and while there’s still hope, the loss has to force us to reprioritize a bit. The Champions League was always a bit of a pipe-dream, even more so after losing the first leg, and so, without putting all of our eggs in one basket, it does seem that the FA Cup, which is only three victories away, is now our best hope at silverware. I just hope Arsène sees it the same way.

Everton, of course, have their designs too. Five points behind Spurs but with a game in hand, the idea of European competition is tantalizingly within reach. Like us, though, their best chance at silverware remains the FA Cup. Martinez, who guided Wigan to the FA Cup over Man City last season, has almost certainly spun tales of what that moment felt like to inspire the Toffees ahead of Saturday’s clash, not that Everton need much motivation. Aside from a 6-1 thrashing we handed down…in 2009, this has been a stubborn fixture, with only 16 goals shared across our last eight matches, the last three of which have ended in dour ties. Of course, under Martinez, Everton are playing a more attractive, aggressive style of football than they did under Moyes. It may not have improved their table-position much, but this does suggest that we have more to worry about at the defensive end than in the past when Everton would set up to defend for a draw.

That is to say that there is a brighter spirit emanating from Goodison Park. Certain elements remain—defensive stolidity, for example, and attacking down the flanks. However, with Moyes and Fellaini gone, there is less emphasis on crossing to find the finish. Bringing in Romelu Lukaku has improved Everton’s scoring quite a bit. With his ability to roam across the pitch, he works its entire width , finding runs in and openings to run onto balls, and his finishing has been strong enough to see him bag ten goals to this point and will clearly be a threat for us. He’s a much more versatile focal point than Fellaini was and tracking his runs with be a top priority.

At our end, we faced a few injury-scares with Koscielny bowing out of France’s friendly against Holland, but he looks to be fit to play, which is reassuring news as we will need his pace and tackling. Ahead of him, Wilshere was clattered rather recklessly in England’s match against Holland but should still be fit. Therefore, as alluded to before, I’m hoping that Arsène names a full-strength squad. After all in “The Big Interview” section of the team-site, he claims that he would “love to win the FA Cup again.” If we did, it would his fifth FA Cup—but first, of course, since 2005. At the risk of sounding craven in my calculations, we’ll have to win all ten of our remaining Prem matches, and this might not be enough to win the Prem. We’d have to win at Bayern before even thinking about winning any remaining matches in the Champions League. Win Saturday against Everton, and only two more victories stand between us and FA Cup glory.

Last 3 Meetings:

• Arsenal 1-1 Everton (08.12.2014)
• Arsenal 0-0 Everton (16.04.2014)
• Everton 1-1 Arsenal (28.11.2014)

Factfile:

• Arsenal have not lost at home to Everton in 19 matches dating back to January 1996.
• Arsenal have scored first in each of their three FA Cup matches so far.
• Everton are the only club in the top eight with a losing record and negative goal-differential on the road.

Injuries:

Diaby (knee) and Walcott (knee) remain out, of course, and are joined by Monreal (ankle), Ramsey (thigh) and Wilshere (foot). Källström is doubtful, but it appears Koscielny is available despite his niggle from the midweek friendly.

Possible starting XI:

Fabianksi; Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Sagna; Flamini, Arteta; Cazorla, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud.

Matches with Everton are never easy, but the urgency that we feel around the Cup should impel us to victory.

Prediction:

Arsenal 2-0 Everton