Everton host table-toppers Arsenal at Goodison Park on February 4 as Sean Dyche looks to kickstart his reign as manager of the Toffees. However, against arguably the best team in the country so far this season, that is easier said than done.
Premier League Predictions: Everton vs Arsenal;Sean Dyche on facing Arsenal in his first game as manager of Everton:
“Good side. They’re a fantastic team. People are obviously talking about them winning the title, so that speaks for itself. I believe they will be aware that I usually send out a team prepared for the challenge.”
Everton’s Current Form
Everton’s current form cannot be described as anything other than dreadful. The Toffees have gone winless in their last five Premier League games, losing four. It is a run of form that has resulted not only in the club dropping to 19th place in the league, but also in the dismissal of ex-manager Frank Lampard.
His dismissal came after a 2-0 defeat at the hands of West Ham United, in which his team managed only five shots on goal despite having 66% possession.
A Potential New Manager Bounces
However, the home team has reason to be cautiously optimistic in this game. The concept of a new manager bounce is one of the oldest in football history. Essentially, a team’s form usually improves after a new coach replaces their old one.
In this game, new manager Dyche will have another chance to prove his theory correct. The appointment is likely to energize the home crowd, which he can exploit.
Arsenal’s Current Form
Regardless, Dyche’s side will find it extremely difficult to come away with anything from this game. The Gunners are in excellent form, having won four of their last five Premier League games and sitting five points clear at the top of the table.
A FA Cup defeat to Manchester City last time out could be a confidence booster, but with Mikel Arteta making six changes for that game, it is likely to be nothing more than a blip in what has been a truly impressive campaign so far. With or without a new manager, this will be an extremely difficult test for Everton.
Recent Face-to-Face
However, the recent results between these two teams should be somewhat encouraging for Everton supporters. They have met five times in the Premier League since 2020, with the Toffees winning three of them. The Gunners won the most recent meeting 5-1, but that was on the final day of the season, when Everton had very little to play for.
Prediction for Everton vs. Arsenal
Despite Everton’s dreadful form, this will not be a walk in the park for the Gunners for the reasons stated. Dyche will almost certainly make Everton far more difficult to beat than Lampard did, and the home crowd will do everything they can to unsettle the visitors.
Arteta’s young team, on the other hand, is mentally strong and has already secured away victories in tense atmospheres on multiple occasions this season, most recently against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. As a result, expect Arsenal to win again in this game, though they will undoubtedly have to work hard for it.
