Photo credit: Getty Images/David Price

By Paul Stevens

Arsenal come to the Everton fixture in mixed form. The results for the Gunners have been incredibly impressive. Six wins and just a single loss in the opening games represent a solid start to this seasons Premier League campaign.

Arsenal had to be very patient in the corresponding fixture last season. All Arsenal fans fondly remember Max Dowman bursting forward to secure the victory in the 97^th minute, but Everton had held Arsenal at bay for the earlier 89 minutes.

For many Gunner’s fans who acknowledge a fine run of results, there are a growing number of voices online that are beginning to worry about the nature of the performances rather than results. There is a feeling that the narrow victories are leaving little room for error and that eventually Arsenal may drop points.

The less than impressive first hour against Leeds was repeated against Nottingham Forest and then there is the alarming result away at Brighton to consider.

Arsenal could do with a convincing and morale boosting victory, but Everton will be a very tough opponent, especially if last season’s fixture at the Emirates is anything to go by. The Gunners must ensure that this game is not a costly slip-up.

Everton have only lost one game this season, which was last week’s fixture at home to Chelsea. The Toffies have beaten Crystal Palace and newly promoted Ipswich, but have recorded four draws in their other premier League matches.

Treatment Table

The Arsenal injury list is beginning to look incredibly concerning, especially in the forward area following Bukayo Saka’s injury sustained in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw away at Bayern Munich.

Saka will certainly miss several of Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures, which leaves Noni Madueke as the Gunner’s only senior right winger.

The match will also come too soon for Christos Tzolis to feature on the left wing. While Madueke deputises for the injured Saka on Arsenal’s right flank, this leaves Eberechi Eze as the only fit left sided player.

William Saliba will miss the Everton fixture but is back in training as he ramps up his recovery from his long term back injury.

There is positive news regarding Martin Zubimendi, who has recovered from his bizarre injury picked up during the post match cool down after the Leeds fixture and is now fit to play.

Mikel Arteta gave another positive boost in his prematch press conference, stating that Piero Hincapie will be available for play, as the Ecuadorean has recovered from an ankle injury. Hincapie is back in team training so will likely feature from the bench, although a start could come in the mid week EFL Cup clash with Fleetwood Town.

For Everton, the Toffies have a clean bill of health and currently have no major injuries.

It is thought left back Vitalii Mykolenko is carrying a slight knock, as is James Garner and finally Martin Rohl. However, all are suspected to be available.

Player Focus

This week’s player focus could highlight any of Arsenal’s remaining forward options as the spotlight is now on Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and the striker duo of Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres to carry the Gunner’s attack until Bukayo Saka and Christos Tzolis return from injury.

My main focus will target Viktor Gyokeres. The Swedish international has barely featured in the Premier League so far this campaign. Gyokeres has only played 80 minutes from a possible 630 in the Premier League.

Gyokeres will have fond memories of the Everton fixture at the Emirates last season, as it was he who converted an 89^th minute Max Dowman delivery to break the deadlock in a nervy game during Arsenal’s successful title run in.

Gyokeres impressed in his 25 minutes on the pitch against Bayern and his assist for Declan Rice helped drag Arsenal back into the match at the Allianz Arena.

The alternative to Gyokeres is Kai Havertz, who seems to be struggling to deliver both in-front of goal but more worryingly in the build-up as well. The German currently ranks top of the table for players caught with ten offside offences.

Then comes the tactical fit. I feel that an Arsenal side featuring both Eberechi Eze and Bruno Guimaraes better suits the quick forward-thinking aspect of Gyokeres’s game. If Arteta can adapt Arsenals play style to occasionally skip the methodical, patient approach and instead punch quick passes through the lines, it may unlock Gyokeres to focus on the finishing.

The sample size is clear by now. Gyokeres is not, and will never be, a Havertz style link-up striker, but that does not mean he cannot have a significant impact. His 20+ goals last season prove it; Arsenal may have to be braver from midfield to take the complications out of the game and allow Gyokeres to play on the shoulder of the last defender and simply score.

Predicted Line-Up

David Raya will feature in goal.

Riccardo Calafiori will start at left back, although I expect Myles Lewis-Skelly, or the now fit Piero Hincapie to rotate with the Italian around the hour mark.

At centre back, Arsenal will stick with Gabriel Magalhaes and Ezri Konza.

In the right back position, I think Ben White will start and like Calafiori, share rotation minutes with Jurien Timber around the hour mark.

I think Mikel Arteta will stick with the midfield trio of Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes and Martin Odegaard.

Likewise, due to injuries in the forward line, Arteta will be forced to field a front two of Eberechi Eze on the left and Noni Madueke on the right.

There is a choice to be made at centre forward and I expect Arteta to switch to Viktor Gyokeres over Kai Havertz, who’s barren run-in front of goal now extends to eight games in all competitions.