Arsenal last defeated Everton at Goodison Park on October 22, 2017, winning 5-2 with goals from Nacho Monreal, Mesut Ozil, Alexander Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey, and Alexis Sanchez (Rooney and Niasse scored for Everton).
Since then, the Gunners have gone winless on that ground and will look to change that this Sunday.
Everton, who have yet to win this season, will be desperate for a victory and eager to score goals, something they have struggled to find.
Mikel Arteta will have to put on his best defensive performance against them.
Undoubtedly, Ben White, William Saliba, and Gabriel are defensively disciplined. However, there are defensive concerns regarding Oleksander Zinchenko. The Ukrainian has a more significant offensive impact on the Gunners than a defensive one. Arsenal will need to be defensively disciplined this weekend, so according to the Arenal guru Charles Watts, Tomiyasu could start at left back for a White-Saliba-Gabriel-Tomiyasu defensive unit.
“I’d play Zinchenko,” the journalist said about who needs to play at left back versus Everton. “But again, given what Everton are going to do, given the threat we know they’re going to possess and how they’re going to play, it would not surprise me at all if Tomiyasu comes into contention for this game as well.”
Zinchenko or Tomiyasu, if you were Arteta, who do you start at left-back this weekend?
Jack Anderson
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Zinchenko for me.For the reason that Everton play with three midfielders and we need to match that at the very least. Zinchenko is more comfortable in midfield than Tomiyasu hence he will add to numbers in the middle,assisting Rice. Zinchenko is also adept at dictating play. If we manage to get early goals,sub Tomi on to close out the game,as he’s defensively more assured.
I agree with you, mate. We’re going to play our usual way of controlling the game, and Sean Dyche is a coach who likes to sit back in his usual mid-block fashion. So we need all the pressing we can do to get ahead in the game. We may also need to be patient to get that goal. Everton have lost their two home games this season with just a 0-1 margin, so I wouldn’t expect much goals in this match. But we need to be careful so we don’t concede early. DCL is back, and they’ve got Beto now too. I’d take a 2-0 in this game. Get a goal early, dominate and control the game and get a counter later in the game to seal it off. And Havertz need to sit out this one. I think Fabio Viera has done enough to start alongside Ødegaard and Rice in that midfield
The role of Tomiyasu in the team is not the same for Zinchenko.
Just as Havertz role in the team selection is not the same for Emile/Fabio/Trossard.
SWEEPERS – Ramsdale, Raya, Hein
OCCUPYERS / CONTAINERS – Havertz, Saliba, Mangalese, Rice, White, Tomiyasu, Partey, Kiwior
CONDUCTORS / CONTROLLERS – Timbre, Odegaard, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Elneny, Fabio, Emile, Trossard, Cedric
DRIVERS / OUTLETS – Nelson, Jesus, Eddie, Saka, Martinelli
Playing 3 controllers in Zinchenko LB, Odegaard R-AM, and Fabio L-AM will decimate the team spine and make the team culpable of conceding cheap goals against a very physical side like Everton.
One controller is simply enough for this Everton game.
Ramsdale
White Saliba Magalhaes Tomiyasu
Odegaard Rice Havertz
Saka Jesus Martinelli
I would play Tomiyasu for this one as he is a better defender. I would also play Reya in goal and play long over the midfield to Havartz and hopefully he can win some headers to feed our attackers and set up chances.
Zinchenko is a central midfielder and should be playing in the position vacated by Xhaka. Football should not not be that complicated