Summer transfer activity at these two clubs has been subdued - notwithstanding the attempts by Manchester City to plunder both squads - but expectations among their fans are high, as they seek to turn potential into achievement.
Saturday, 15 August 2009, Kick-off: 17:30 BSTGoodison Park, LiverpoolTime To Deliver...Two teams with much to prove this season get their campaigns under way at Goodison Park on Saturday evening under a weight of expectation.
Arsenal know that over the next nine months they must translate their undoubted potential into something that is not only tangible but glitteringly silver. Everton have to demonstrate that after two seasons of being the best team outside of the top four they are capable of gatecrashing that particular party. Sceptics will say that neither have done enough over the summer to realize their respective objectives.
They will say that Arsenal are weaker - following the departures of African pair Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City and the continued failure to replace Mathieu Flamini and Gilberto Silva - than they were last season, when despite a 21-match unbeaten run in the league they were ruthlessly exposed when it mattered by Manchester United and Chelsea. The cynics will also claim that Everton showed in last May's FA Cup final, having taken an early lead against Chelsea but lost, that they are still a long way short of 'Big Four' status. Inside both camps, however, the vibes will be positive - at least until a quarter-past seven on Saturday evening.
Everton's challenge is to improve their home form out of all recognition: eight wins in 19 attempts last season was patently not good enough to get them into the Champions League places. Another obvious weakness was the fact that their joint top scorers, Tim Cahill and Marouane Fallaini, both midfielders, managed a mere eight goals apiece.
Where is the 20-goals-a-season striker, with Yakubu still injured?As for Arsenal, they need to convince themselves and everyone else that their defensive frailties, especially at set-pieces, have been addressed; their solitary summer signing to date was that of Thomas Vermaelen, a center-half, so the gamble is that he will command the back-line like nobody has since Sol Campbell was in his prime. The Gunners must also recapture a ruthless streak that will prevent them squandering vital points to the likes of Fulham, Hull City, Stoke City and one of the teams that will have them firmly in their sights this time around, Manchester City.Gooners looking for omens may be encouraged by the fact that on each of the last five occasions on which Arsenal have played Everton on the opening day of the season, the North London side have ended the campaign with a trophy. In 1937-38 they kicked off with a 4-1 win at Highbury and went on to win the title. In 1969-70, despite losing to the Toffees 0-1 at Highbury on opening day, they lifted the European Fairs Cup (while Everton became League champions). The following season (1970-71), a 2-2 draw at Goodison was Arsenal's first step towards a memorable League-FA Cup double. In 2003-04 they beat Everton 2-1 at Highbury and remained undefeated throughout that campaign, which ended with their being crowned champions.
And in 2004-05 a 4-1 Arsenal victory at Goodison kicked off a campaign in which they won the FA Cup and finished runners-up to Chelsea in the Premier League, two places above the Toffees. Hands Off...The two managers involved at Goodison on Saturday are among the longest-serving in the Premier League. Arsene Wenger is embarking on his 14th campaign in charge of the Gunners, and only Alex Ferguson at Manchester United can top that.
Next best in the longevity stakes, though, is David Moyes, who moved into the Everton hot-seat in March 2002. Both are in demand: Wenger again made it clear this summer that he would prefer to honour his Arsenal contract - and lead his latest crop of players to silverware - than join Real Madrid.
Moyes, meanwhile, has been complimented again by Ferguson, who appears to regard his fellow-Scot as the best best to succeed him, eventually, at Old Trafford.
However, Moyes and Wenger have had more pressing matters than their own futures to deal with during the current transfer window. Manchester City's persistent and very public attempts to lure defender Joleon Lescott to Eastlands have incensed Moyes, who on Friday described the Citizens' negotiating tactics as "disgusting", and stated indignantly that the player "has had his head twisted" by City's wooing, while reiterating that Lescott, with more than four years still to run on his contract, will not be leaving Goodison Park despite requesting a transfer following the interest from Mark Hughes.
"He should get his head around that and get on with his career," said Moyes, adding, "I make the decisions, they have not talked to me and the player has been consistently told he is not for sale." Wenger has observed the weekly statements of intent from continental adversaries, most persistently Barcelona (or at least their media mouth-pieces), regarding his captain, Cesc Fabregas, and remains steadfastly unmoved. Insisting again on Friday that there is no chance of Fabregas leaving the club on the eve of the new season, Wenger said that while he could not stop people from "having a lot of creative imagination during their sleepless nights," that did not mean Arsenal would grant their wishes and agree to sell one of their key players.
Unlike Moyes, Wenger did agree to let Adebayor and Toure join Manchester City; and while he may yet re-enter the market as a buyer, he appears to regard the acquisition of Belgium international Vermaelen, and the return to fitness of Eduardo, as adequate cover for the departing Africans. Another Arsenal defender, Philippe Senderos, could also be leaving soon, having been heavily linked with, ironically, Everton.So far the Toffees have made some low-key signings in the shape of the Americans Anton Peterlin from Ventura County Fusion (California) and Cody Arnoux from Carolina Dynamo, and the promising 17-year-old German defender Shkodran Mustafi. In addition, Manchester City's Brazilian striker Jo has returned to Goodison for a second loan spell. Going the other way have been Andy van der Meyde, Lars Jacobson and Nuno Valente, none of whom have yet been replaced.Moyes said recently:
"We are not ready as far as the squad goes, we want more players in... If we want a run in Europe we need more players quickly. The search goes on, it has never stopped all summer and I am feeling a bit demented with it all now! "Apart from a couple of clubs, the transfer activity around the country has been limited. But for us, to have finished fifth and reached a cup final, to improve on that costs a lot of money. But we don't have that money. So trying to find players who are cheap, don't want much wages and will come here to improve us, well, it is not easy."History LessonThese two clubs boast the longest continuous memberships of the top tier of English league football: Arsenal are embarking on the 84th consecutive top-flight campaign stretching back 90 years to the 1919-20 season. Everton are second in the list following their promotion in 1953-54, 55 seasons ago. Arsenal have also played more league games against Everton (176) than any other club except Manchester United (180) - but every game against the Toffees has been in the top-flight.Both clubs have played 658 matches in 17 consecutive seasons in the Premier League, though their respective records are somewhat contrasting: EvertonP 658 W 228 D 179 L 251 Scored 813 Conceded 845ArsenalP 658 W 352 D 180 L126 Scored 1116 Conceded 584Of the 34 Premier League meetings between them, Arsenal have won 21 and Everton five, with eight games being drawn. Arsenal have scored 67 goals, Everton 27.
Arsenal have lost to Everton away four times in their 17 Premier League visits. Prior to last season’s 1-1 draw on Merseyside, the previous four clashes there ended in either 1-0 Everton victories or 4-1 wins for Arsenal. In this fixture last season, the Toffees were mere seconds away from victory thanks to a Tim Cahill goal when Robin van Persie fired home a stunning last-gasp equaliser for the Gunners.
The Dutch striker's goal preserved an unbeaten away run in the League that now stands at 12 matches, Arsenal's last reverse on the road being on November 22, 2008, at Manchester City. If Arsenal got away with it at that Goodison clash in January, they were emphatic winners three months earlier at the Emirates. In mid-October, Everton had also taken the lead, through Leon Osman. But Arsenal hit back with goals from Samir Nasri, Van Persie and Theo Walcott.
FORM GUIDE
Everton07 August (Friendly) Everton 2-1Malaga04 August (Friendly) Blackpool 2-1 Everton02 August (Friendly) Coventry 2-2 Everton26 July (Friendly) River Plate 1-0 Everton18 July (Friendly) Rochdale 1-4 EvertonArsenal08 August (Friendly) Valencia 2-0 Arsenal02 August (Emirates Cup) Arsenal 3-0 Rangers01 August (Emirates Cup) Arsenal 2-1 Atletico Madrid29 July (Friendly) Hannover 96 0-1 Arsenal27 July (Friendly) Szombathelyi H. 0-5 Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
EvertonBrazilian striker Jo is progressing well following an ankle injury that caused him to limp out of the friendly against Blackpool earlier this month. He is now back training and expected to feature against Arsenal. Steven Pienaar is a slight doubt with a knee injury, while Moyes must decide whether to start with Joleon Lescott given that the player is unsettled - but may well opt to play him if only to reinforce his message to Mark Hughes.Definitely ruled out though are Mikel Arteta (knee), Victor Anichebe (knee), Phil Jagielka (knee) and Ayegbeni Yakubu (Achilles).Squad: Howard, Nash, Hibbert, Baines, Lescott, Yobo, Mustafi, Coleman, Cahill, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Rodwell, Fellaini, Gosling, Saha, Jo, Vaughan, Agard, Baxter.Last Starting XI in Premier League (v Fulham): Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Neville (Gosling 76), Cahill, Rodwell, Pienaar (Vaughan 86), Osman, Saha (Castillo 79). Subs not used: Nash, Jo, Jacobsen, Fellaini. ArsenalArsenal's new signing from Ajax, the Belgian international center-back Thomas Vermaelen, is available after playing 45 minutes for his country on Wednesday. Vermaelen is expected to line up alongside William Gallas in a new central defensive partnership. The Gunners will be without Theo Walcott, who has a back problem despite having been on the bench for England in midweek. Abou Diaby also misses this game with a groin problem, while definitely sidelined through injury are Johan Djourou (knee), Lukasz Fabianski (knee), Samir Nasri (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring). Squad: Almunia, Mannone, Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Traore, Silvestre, Fabregas, Arshavin, Denilson, Song, Ramsey, Wilshere, Eduardo, Van Persie, Bendtner, Vela.Last Starting XI in Premier League (v Stoke): Mannone, Sagna (Eboue 57), Toure, Song, Gibbs, Diaby, Fabregas, Denilson, Arshavin (Vela 71 ), Van Persie, Walcott (Bendtner 46). Subs not used: Szczesny, Ramsey, Silvestre, Djourou.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
EvertonTim Cahill scored against the Gunners last season is the sort of player capable of punishing any hesitation in the Arsenal rearguard. He finds space in the opposition penalty area and is outstanding in the air, frequently heading goals from set pieces, which are Arsenal's Achilles' heel. There will much interest too in the performance of Joleon Lescott, if selected. He is a versatile defender who gives the Everton back-line a more solid and resilient look when he plays, but it remains to be seen whether the constant transfer speculation has affected his focus.
He will be aided in the creativity department by the explosive Russian, Andrey Arshavin, whose enthusiasm and outstanding ability on the ball should offer Arsenal a new and potentially devastating dimension this season. He scored four on his last visit to Merseyside, and will be keen to help his team record a winning start.
PREDICTION
Both sets of supporters will be somewhat disappointed with their team's transfer market activity so far this summer, but it's a case of going with what you have now, at least as far as Saturday is concerned - and on paper at least the Arsenal squad looks stronger taking those unavailable through injury into account. Everton will, of course, be desperate to start with a win in front of their own fans, while the Gunners will be equally keen to get off on the front foot, mindful of how too many defeats in the first couple of months of last season derailed their title push early on. It could all point to a draw, though Arsenal's determination to silence the doubters this season could well see them edge the three points.Everton 1-2 Arsenal
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