Match Preview
Everton v Arsenal
Dennis Bergkamp has not recovered from an Achilles injury and misses Arsenal's Premiership clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Ray Parlour (knee and hamstring) and Martin Keown (hamstring) are both still sidelined.
Wenger will not risk Robert Pires, who made his comeback after seven months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury in a specially-arranged friendly against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.
Wenger is sure to keep faith with David Seaman, whose latest England blooper gifted Macedonia a draw on Wednesday night.
Everton captain David Weir has been cleared to play against the Gunners.
Under new FIFA regulations, he should have been suspended after his dismissal against Manchester United a week last Monday.
However, the FA are retaining their own disciplinary system, which give two weeks' grace before the ban kicks in.
Defenders Tony Hibbert and Gary Naysmith are doubtful for the game with hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
HEAD TO HEAD NOTES
A miscued shot from Sylvain Wiltord won this corresponding fixture last season for Arsenal. The game marked the Everton debut of David Ginola.
Arsenal are chasing a fourth win in five Premiership visits to Everton and a sixth in eight trips.
The Toffeemen's only home win over the Gunners in the Premiership was the ninth and most recent fixture, a 2-0 victory on 18 November, 2000.
The North London giants have completed the 'double' over the Merseysiders three times in the last four seasons.
Arsenal are two goals away from registering 100 in League matches with Everton on Merseyside.
Everton's biggest win in this corresponding fixture was 6-1 on 9 November, 1985. Arsenal's biggest League win at Everton was 1-6 on 6 September, 1958. Both matches were in the former First Division.
The last player to be sent off in League matches between these clubs was Everton's Abel Xavier in the 4-1 defeat at Highbury on 21 April, 2001.
The last player to bag a hat trick in League matches between these clubs was Ian Wright. He scored all Arsenal's goals in the 4-2 win at Highbury on 21 December, 1991.
EVERTON
Current League position
12th 11 points
One point below top half
Best Scenario at end of the afternoon
Up 6 to 6th
If win, while Birmingham [away to West Brom] and Blackburn [home to Newcastle] both draw, and Leeds [home to Liverpool] and Chelsea [away to Man City] both lose, and Fulham [home to Man Utd] also lose but with an eight goal swing.
Worst Scenario at end of the afternoon
Down 2 to 14th
If lose, while West Brom [home to Birmingham] win, and Man City [home to Chelsea] also win, but with a five goal swing.
Sequences
UNBEATEN AT HOME IN THE PREMIERSHIP [2 wins, 2 draws]
WON LAST 2 HOME LEAGUE GAMES
Recent Form
4 wins in last 9 League and Cup games
Won 3 of last 8 Premiership matches
Drawn 2 of last 10 in all competitions
2 draws in last 9 top flight encounters
Lost 4 of last 10 confrontations
4 defeats in last 6 top division duels
Failed to score in 2 of last 10 contests
Failed to find the net in 2 of last 5 League clashes
3 clean sheets in last 10
Managed 2 clean sheets in last 8 top tier League outings
Potential Career Milestones
If involved, Paul GERRARD will be making his 100th appearance for the Merseysiders.
If involved from kick off, Niclas ALEXANDERSSON will be making his 50th League start for Everton.
If he plays, Mark PEMBRIDGE will be making his 400th appearance for English clubs.
ADDITIONAL TOFFEES NOTES
Won last two home Premiership matches.
Last home Premiership game in which failed to find the net was the goalless draw with Leeds on 3 March, 2002.
One of six clubs with unbeaten home Premiership League records. The others are Arsenal, Fulham, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Southampton.
One of four clubs to have conceded first in most top League matches (6). The others are Man City, Sunderland and West Ham.
Won 66 corners in Premiership matches this season - only Manchester City can match that.
Conceded four penalties in Premiership matches this season. Only Bolton have also conceded that many.
Hit the woodwork on four occasions in Premiership matches. That's the same number as Leeds, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd. No other clubs have been that unfortunate.
ARSENAL
Current League position
TOP 23 points
2 points ahead at the summit.
Best Scenario at end of the afternoon
5 points clear at the head of the League
If win, while Liverpool [away to Leeds] lose and Man Utd [away to Fulham] do no better than draw.
Worst Scenario at end of the afternoon
Down 1 to 2nd
If lose, while Liverpool [away to Leeds] win.
Sequences
WON LAST 8 - 5 Prem, 3 CL
UNBEATEN THIS SEASON [9 Prem, 1 CS, 3 CL]
GONE 7 AWAY WITHOUT DEFEAT - 4 Prem, 2 CL, 1 CS [5 wins, 2 draws]
UNDEFEATED IN 30 LEAGUE GAMES
Recent Form
11 wins in last 13 League and Cup games
Won 25 of last 30 Premiership matches
Drawn 2 of last 11 in all competitions
2 draws in last 8 top flight encounters
Lost 0 of last 13 confrontations
1 defeat in last 36 top division duels
Failed to score in 0 of last 13 contests
Failed to find the net in 1 of last 52 League clashes
6 clean sheets in last 13
Managed 2 clean sheets in last 9 top tier League outings
Potential Career Milestones
Dennis BERGKAMP is a brace away from scoring 100 goals for Arsenal.
If involved from the kick off, both LAUREN and Oleg LUZHNY will be making their 50th League starts for the Gunners.
If he plays, Fredrik LJUNGBERG will be making his 100th League appearance for the North London giants.
ADDITIONAL GUNNERS NOTES
Won last eight matches.
Won last five Premiership matches.
Last Premiership defeat was 1-3 at home to Newcastle on 18 December, 2001.
Last League game when failed to score was the goalless draw at Newcastle on 15 May, 2001.
Last away Premier League defeat was in the season before last, at Southampton. The Gunners wrapped up that League campaign with a 3-2 reverse on 29 May, 2001.
Won most Premiership matches (7).
One of two clubs still with an unbeaten Premier League record. The other is Liverpool.
Recorded the longest winning sequence in the top division (5).
Top scorers at the highest League level (24 in 9). That's one goal every 34 minutes.
One of two clubs to have scored in every top division match. The other is Liverpool.
Top scorers in a single Premiership game. That was the five goals in the 5-2 home win over West Brom on 27 August.
Involved in the Premier League's highest aggregate match. That was the 7 goals in the
5-2 home win over West Brom on 27 August.
Teams:
Everton (from): Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Unsworth, Carsley, Tie Li, Gravesen, Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski, Rooney, Naysmith, Stubbs, Gerrard, Ferguson, Feng.
Arsenal (from): Seaman, Taylor, Shaaban, Luzhny, Lauren, Cole, Campbell, Cygan, Vieira, Edu, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Wiltord, Toure, Pennant, Henry, Kanu, Jeffers.
Referee: Uriah Rennie
Uriah Rennie wasn't the most popular of characters when he made his debut in the Premier League back in the 1999/00 season. His tendency to dish out cards and come up with unlikely decisions had some managers riled to say the least.
But now the 42-year-old community liaison manager back into the fold. His return brought a swift intake of breath from some managers, but Rennie performed to such a good standard in the Football League in his year out that the Premier League just had to include him in their list.
Rennie is now also a recognised FIFA official, and his biggest match to date came in 2001 when he took charge of the Division One play-off final between Bolton and Preston.
|