Arsenal v Everton Preview
It was all change at Arsenal and Everton over the summer, but Unai Emery and Marco Silva are still to master their roles.
While the Gunners have shown the green shoots of recovery, with four straight wins in all competitions, the Toffees’ unbeaten start came to a sticky end as they were outclassed 3-1 by West Ham last Sunday.
Both bosses started the season with European aspirations, but much will depend on how quickly they adapt to their surroundings.
Arsenal the favourites despite defensive woes
Unai Emery has tried to inject increased structure to Arsenal’s play in his brief tenure, deliberately imploring his players to play from the back. It has produced varying degrees of success but does not seem to have helped them shore up their defence.
Both of these teams have conceded nine goals in their five Premier League outings, while the Gunners let in two more in Thursday’s 4-2 Europa League triumph against minnows Vorskla Poltava.
A home win on Sunday is just 1.47 but Arsenal’s goal tally of 14 in all competitions so far this season, suggests a win and both to score at 2.30 is the way to go.
Everton aiming to upset the odds
When looking for encouragement, Silva might as well save himself the ignominy of trawling through the history books.
This game finished 5-1 to the hosts last term and it seems almost hard to believe that Everton have never won at the Emirates. Those with longer memories than most may just about be able to picture their last away victory in this fixture.
George Michael had just gone to number one in the UK charts and Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis were the scorers, as Joe Royle’s Toffees defeated Bruce Rioch’s Gunners 2-1 in January 1996.
The away win may entice those eyeing value at 7.00, while the draw is 4.95 but Everton’s price seems sizeable for a reason.
Goals could be the answer
Neither of these teams have kept a clean sheet this season and a ‘yes’ in the both to score market is only 1.58. There have been over 3.5 goals in each of the last three meetings between these sides, an outcome that is 2.15, but there could be more value for punters here.
As well as that 5-1 last term, the fixture at Goodison Park finished 5-2, a result that led to the dismissal of Ronald Koeman.
Backing another case of over 5.5 at 6.50 may not be so silly, while dropping back down to the 3.60 for over 4.5 is well worth a look, especially considering these two have conceded nine each so far this term.
Ramsey record provides value
Football can be a funny game and despite struggling at times, certain players can pull it out against the same teams every season.
Aaron Ramsey scored a hat-trick in that 5-1, taking his record to five goals in his last three outings against the Toffees.
Those scouring the goalscorer markets need look no further than the Welshman, who is 2.75 to score at anytime, while he can be backed at 8.00 to break the deadlock.
