Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the English Premier League match.
In the previous round, Everton had the chance to help Arsenal close the gap on Liverpool, but the match was postponed. How will Arsenal, who endured a midweek fixture, fare against a rested Everton?
Arsenal
Arsenal had to do their part, but they only partially succeeded with a draw against Fulham (1:1). Fulham scored without creating much, from just two attacks, while Arsenal managed to breach Bernd Leno's net from a corner. On Wednesday, they played in the sixth round of the Champions League against AS Monaco. They won convincingly (3:0), but it took effort: the outcome was in doubt until Bukayo Saka scored his second goal in the 78th minute. At the Emirates, Arsenal have shown a penchant for keeping clean sheets. In their last seven home matches, only two visiting teams have scored: Southampton (3:1) and Liverpool (2:2).
Everton
Assessing Everton's form is challenging. Their last match was on the 4th of December, a week earlier than Arsenal's. What is clear is that Everton have been involved in fixtures where one side fails to score. This was the case in their last five games. They secured a win only in the 14th round against Wolverhampton (4:0), with two draws and two losses in other instances. In seven of their last eight games, one team has failed to find the back of the net.
Arsenal vs Everton Prediction
Considering the likelihood of a goalless side, who would it be? Probably Everton. Arsenal have scored in 15 consecutive home games. The last team to leave the Emirates without conceding was Aston Villa (2:0). That defeat in April cost Arsenal the league title. Now, we predict a clean sheet victory for the hosts.
