Match Preview for Everton v Arsenal
The priorities for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will become clear tomorrow when he names his line-up for the difficult trip to Goodison Park.
Does he believe the Gunners are still in the title race – they start the weekend 12 points behind Liverpool with just eight games to go – or is all focus on Tuesday night’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid?
It is a tricky balance for Arteta to strike but he must surely be tempted to rest several key players for the game on Merseyside.
Arsenal had a mixed evening against Fulham in midweek. A 2-1 win was accompanied by a comeback goal from Bukayo Saka but also a season-ending injury for defender Gabriel – one half of arguably the best centre-half pairing in the Premier League alongside William Saliba.
Good times at Goodison Park 🏟
📺 Relive 5 classic wins ahead of our final trip to Everton’s iconic stadium 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 4, 2025
Arsenal ideally would not have picked a game against Everton prior to the Madrid clash.
The Toffees are a rugged side under David Moyes but it’s an approach that has reaped recent rewards with a narrow defeat at neighbours Liverpool on Wednesday night their first setback in 10 league games.
The main talking point after the game at Anfield was James Tarkowski’s tackle on Alexis Mac Allister, which was deemed worthy at the time of just a yellow card despite the centre-half catching the Argentina midfielder on the calf with both feet off the ground.
Refereeing body the PGMOL admitted afterwards the VAR should have recommended on-field official Sam Barrott go to the pitchside monitor and upgrade his decision to a red.
Tarkowski has come under fire on social media in the subsequent days, prompting Everton to release a statement this morning condemning the abuse.
And Moyes was quick to stand up for his player. He said: “The club have issued a statement. It’s not acceptable for anybody, in any walk of life.
“Having looked at it again I believe it could have been a sending off. But I don’t think that means you should get abused online because of that. It’s part of football.
“He made what I thought at the time was a really good tackle. But having looked at it again I think it was a bit reckless.”