Morning all.
It’s been a strange old week in the footballing world, one dominated by the officials and the mistakes they’ve made. Moyes was cheesed off about Liverpool’s goal being allowed to stand when there was a clear offside missed, Slot was annoyed because Tarkowski got away with a booking instead of being sent off and then Big Ange had a moan about VAR taking ages to come to a decision which was so clear, it should have taken seconds to call. All three are right in my opinion as the officiating in the Premier League is dreadful. Will anything change going forward? I doubt it but the more managers speak out, the more hope there is that one day, something will change.
It’s often said in life “never go back”. After all, there’s usually a good reason why one left in the first place but for David Moyes, his return to Everton has gone well so far. From being one point off the relegation places when he took the managers job for a second time, Everton are now 14 points clear of danger. They’re level on points with that lot down the road from us.
A little statistic for you:
- This will be Arsenal’s 104th and final league game at Goodison Park (W32, D27, L44). It is the away ground where they have played – and won – the most top-flight matches.
Let’s hope we make it 33 wins today.
Everton are fortunate to be lining up with James Tarkowski in defence this lunchtime but they are without Calvert-Lewin, Lindstrom and Mangala.
Arsenal have already confirmed Gabriel is out for the rest of the season and as yet, it’s unknown whether both Jurrien Timber and/or Ben White have recovered. Mikel Arteta said in his press conference that there’s a chance both could be fit.
Moyes has given his team belief they can compete against any side in the division. Their nine-match unbeaten run may have ended on Wednesday, but they remain difficult to wear down.
The first half is going to be crucial to our chances of claiming a win. Everton are usually at their best before the interval, and have only found themselves trailing at the break in six of their 30 top-flight fixtures. It is late on when they tend to run into trouble, leaking more double the number of goals in the final 45 minutes.
We will run into a compact 4-2-3-1, and with Moyes at the helm they are sure to be well-organised. Averaging just 40.4% possession, the second lowest in the division, we are likely to have a lot of the ball. Good movement and speed of passing will be key to our success. With lots of Premier League experience at the back, they are good at repelling hopeful deliveries that are put into the box.
On the ball, they will go long. Everton have made more successful long passes than any other side, and striker Beto will often be the player they aim for. He has been in good form during 2025, and has scored five goals in his last five Premier League starts at Goodison.
The game against Everton at The Emirates was a frustrating one. Dyche was the manager back then and to suggest his team had very little ambition to win the game would be an understatement I think. They had two shots all game with none hitting the target. Mikel Arteta’s team, a strong one it was too barring Thomas Partey on the bench, just couldn’t find the back of the net. But for an excellent save from Pickford, Bukayo Saka would have secured three points.
I don’t think Everton are quite so defensively minded under Moyes but they’re still going to tough to breakdown. Plus, they have the big fella Beto up front and he’s strong. Against Liverpool he struggled off a challenge in the box before scoring but unlucky for him, the offside flag went up.
Arsenal will need to be smart today. Look at where the dangers are and see them. Trust me, there’s a difference, just as there is between listening and hearing. Jakub Kiwior isn’t blessed with pace but the neither was Gilberto but he had a footballing brain and used that to his advantage. A bit like Jorginho really. Kiwior needs to see trouble in front of him and before it’s gone past him. Be proactive rather than reactive. If both White and Timber start, Kiwior might not but my hunch is he will. Which if I’m right, our midfield needs to strong and supportive of its defence because I think Moyes will target our left side. I would too bearing in mind we could have an 18 year old left back and a player who hardly plays in Kiwior. But this is Kiwior’s chance. With eight games to go and with the possibility of him leaving in the summer, it’s his opportunity to show what he’s really made of and for more than just the odd ten minutes here and there from the bench..
Anyway, this is the last time Arsenal will play Everton at Goodison Park as they’re on the move. Let’s go out there and make it a day David Moyes and his players will want to forget. A day which Mikel Arteta can look back on and recall that his team beat his old club on their last visit.
Catch up in the comments….
Morning all!
hope we win!
Morning all,
Nice preview Rico,that’s an interesting stat about most away wins. I do remember us absolutely smashing them a few times,I remember most being hard fought,and today will probably be the same. Will we start with Saka or will he be on the bench with Real Madrid coming up is the big question.
The early kick doesn’t really suit us,it’s probably better for Geoff ! The same for both teams I suppose.
I agree this is a great opportunity for Kiwior,if it works out it’s good for everyone.
COYG
Morning Joaquim , are you well , did you see my question about bars in Porto showing Arsenal v Brentford ?
We are 4 points ahead of Forest and they are away at Villa later today so it’s important that we get something from today to keep the gap in the race for second.
Slowly but surely refereeing is coming under scrutiny and it is refreshing that people inside the game are becoming more vocal. Whilst it was just fans complaining it was easy to to brand their complaints as sour grapes . That is passing to managers now with the media branding them as ranting but the more it happens the greater the pressure will be on Howard Webb and his acolytes to change . As for the fans , social media has the ability to keep highlighting their differentials and total lack of consistency .
However it has to be across the board , as fans of our club we have to appreciate that when it happens to other clubs , it’s just as wrong as it is when it happens to us.
To couple Tarkowski with Rice and Trossard as yellows is plainly wrong these are one of the anomalies that need looking at and why VAR takes so long to reach conclusions taking all the excitement away is another . Someone needs to remind them that “”IT has to be clear and obvious “” and not referee the game from a distance.
Morning all.
Thanks Limey, we have had some crackers – the best perhaps being the Tony Adams moment..
Absolutely agree Potter. A howler from the officials is bad regardless of which it involves. I also agree re managers making their opinions public because if they all do it, it takes the finger pointing away from Arsenal.
All any football fan wants is honesty and consistency. I don’t think we are seeing either.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Merino.
Not thinking about Real game then.
Afternoon Rico and all.
Interesting starting line, hopefuly it gets the result we are hopring for.
Afternoon Geoff
Nice finish from Trosssard.
G’day Rico and all.
POGMOL really cannot be called inconsistent, unfortunately they are consistently bad. Bad? Bloody awful is a better description!
One nil to The Arsenal, a couple more will be very welcome.
Afternoon Cicero.
How soft was that?
Making up for Liverpool error..
Dreadful defending from us beforehand though.
Harrison just fell over, pathetic decision.
Not the greatest performance by Arsenal, evidenced by the man of the match award going to Jakub Kiwior.
Congratulations Liverpool, the Premiership Trophy is all yours.
Didn’t get it today, Don’t know about a penalty could have been a yellow for diving. Tussle outside the area waited until he was inside and went down .
That’s what Jesus would have got…
The two challenges on Sterling which went unpunished were worse..
Refereeing is just a joke, really is. And I just expect it now.
Good morning Potter
I won’t be in Portugal on April 12th. The game will be live on DAZN (pre-paid channel). I don’t know the channel yet. You can find cafes, bars, even in the hotel lobby showing the game, but the most certain thing is this: Arsenal Portugal will meet at Fino Golf Club in Matosinhos to watch the game at 5:30 pm. I can give you the correct address and let you know that I’ll be there.
Best regards.
Thanks , I will investigate taxis to see how to get from centre Porto to Matosinhos and if we can it would be good to be with an Arsenal group.
Potter: Tell me which hotel or street it is. One option is the subway.
Good evening Rico and all
did we gain one point on Forest or we lost two against the dippers?? Even if we won we would not have gained anything on the dippers even if they contrive to lose tomorrow. It would simply have prolonged the agony for me at least.
So I feel we gained 1 point on Forest. 2nd place is a trophy in itself mind you according to Sir AW’s reasoning.
How many points have we lost this season?? Well I think we are into double figures due to referee errors. And today’s referee was hilarious especially towards the end of the game. He whistled for full time, but when Everton players crowded around him and pointed at the time on the big screen he restarted the game. Seriously hilarious.
And Darren England was the same VAR when MLS was sent off against Wolves. And today he botched up another decision. Imo it was never a penalty. However, we only have ourselves to blame….we should have killed them off before they got in their first shot.
And Kiwior got MOTM. I hope he follows it up against Real.
Evening Devil, it’s not Forest I worry about, it’s City, Newcastle and Chelsea.
We have a few tough fixtures to get through yet if we’re to secure CL football for next season.
We have a few tough fixtures to get through yet if we’re to secure CL football for next season
Just need to keep picking up points.
second is nice , third is not a problem . Just learn to keep it tight at the back
we have to keep it tight at the back yet we still have the EPL’s best defence. lol
Statistically we have the best defence, but statistics show only what has happened not what is going to happen. We have lost Gabriel who, with Saliba, formed the best central defensive pairing in the league. Timber and White are both carrying injuries and are not able to play for a full ninety minutes. Calafiori is also absent for who knows how long. Will we ever see Tomiyasu again? So we may have had the best defence but will Arteta be able to cobble together a half decent unit to carry us through the rest of the season.
So far he has managed. With all the injuries, suspensions and VAR we are still with the best defense, 2nd in league and in qf of CL
My pennies worth, I think we have some of the best defenders, certainly in this league but not always the best defensive unit depending on who plays. Clear as mud 😜
New post up.