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My choice for Arsenal’s XI to start at Everton – What’s yours?

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal in action with Neal Maupay of Everton during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Arsenal FC at Goodison Park on February 04, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

My Team for the Everton Game

Arsenal will continue their Premier League journey on Sunday against Sean Dyche’s Everton.

Mikel Arteta’s side made a memorable comeback against Manchester United in their previous league game, and the Spaniard tactician will hope that his players carry on the energy they showed in the dying minutes of the match against the Red Devils.

With games coming thick and fast, Arteta would need to assess all his options to keep his team fresh throughout. With the Gunners set to play five games in the next 13 days, players like Reiss Nelson, Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior, David Raya, Fabio Vieira, and Emile Smith Rowe will all be licking their lips.

Here’s how I would set up the team against Everton:

Starting XI:

Ramsdale

Tomiyasu White Saliba Zinchenko

Rice

Odegaard Trossard

Saka Jesus Martinelli

With Zinchenko now fully fit, the Ukrainian shifting to the middle of the park has given Arsenal a lot of stability in the midfield. Everton will come out pressing aggressively, and with the London side boasting a clever player like the former City man, and a midfield enforcer like Declan Rice, Arteta can feel assured that the Toffees will have a hard time disrupting the Gunners’ midfield.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has been superb this season. The performance against Germany immediately comes to mind. With the tricky wingers that Dyche has on his team, Tomiyasu can certainly be expected to come out on top regardless.

There will be some argument related to Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian gave a fine performance against United, increasing his chances of getting picked for the tie at Goodison. However, Arsenal play a midweek Champions League game, and bringing on a fresh defender against PSV might be the best bet.

Moving on, Kai Havertz has no doubt been the Gunners’ weak link this season. In the game against Erik Ten Hag’s men, the German missed a golden opportunity first and then gave away the ball from which Marcus Rashford put his side ahead. The former Chelsea man needs more time to settle in North London, thus bringing him on rather than starting him will make a lot of sense.

With Gabriel Jesus finally back, he should be starting this weekend’s game ahead of Eddie Nketiah. Even though the Englishman has been impressive, what the Brazilian offers is something totally different and unique.

What do you think about my team? Drop your thoughts in the comments section below!

Writer – Yash Bisht

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Tags Everton v Arsenal

19 Comments

  1. My lineup when we have the ball:

    …….………….……. Ramsdale
    ………. White .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
    ……………….. Rice ……..… Zinchenko
    Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Martinelli
    …………………………. Jesus

    Everton would likely try their luck in set-pieces with their three towering central midfielders, so we’d need Havertz to defend against those tall players

    I would still play Zinchenko ahead of Tomiyasu, because Everton would likely park the bus and we’d need creative players to break their ultra-defensive setup

      1. 3-2-4-1 in possession and 4-3-3 out of possession just like last season. Arteta hasn’t changed formation this season like some seem to think just moved around the players.

        Havertz only gets in cause playing vieira vs Everton physical midfield might be a risk.

      2. Zinchenko will move back as usual:

        …………………… Ramsdale
        White . Saliba . Magalhaes . Zinchenko
        ……………………….. Rice
        Saka . Odegaard . Havertz . Martinelli
        ………………………. Jesus

        1. I feel Eddie will start considering Everton are very physical and GJ will come on once they slow down. 2-1 AFC

    2. Gai, I would have given your lineup 👍 But on form I will prefer Tomiyasu to White he is also taller for aerial duells he was fantastic for Japan last week. And for Everton physicality in the box Gabriel will do for me. Havertz, Odegard and Rice would be fine in midfield.

      Tomiyasu. Saliba. Gabriel. Zichenko

      Odegard. Rice. Havertz

      Saka. Jesus. Matinelli

      Sub for Saka:Tossard

      Sub for Havertz: Viera

  2. Ramsdale
    ………. White .… Saliba …. Magalhaes
    ……………….. Rice ……..… Zinchenko
    Nelson . Odegaard . Trossard . Martinelli
    …………………………. Jesus

    Saka isn’t fit, rest him for CL and spuds. Havertz aaaagh!

  3. Gotanidea’s team looks good to me I think that will be the team and it’ll also be the shape when we have the ball Our bench better be ready for this game because with subs coming on in the 70-odd minutes mark they get to play for over half an hour as things stand. Hopefully, they’ll be coming on to enforce or hold onto a lead rather than chasing a goal Either way they have a bigger role to play these days

    1. I think Everton will rely on counter-attacks as they did last season, using the pace of Onana and Danjuma. Then they could bring Beto in if they need to score from corners

      1. Gai, there isn’t a better time to beat Everton. Hence our additionsl during transfer period wouldn’t be a visible benefit. This are the kind of game we must win to prove our mettle and ambition this season. To finish in a good position this season Arsenal must aim high. To challenge City should be the standard. Winning where we hardly win.

  5. Ramsdale
    White Saliba Gabriel Tomiyasu
    Rice Zinchenko
    Trossard Odegaard Martinelli
    Nketiah

    I had Saka out as I read somewhere that he is carrying an Achilles injury. I also want Zinchenko to play left midfield as he can be really effective.

  6. Play 5 of 6 defenders in a game while you have 5 midfielders seating on the bench! That’s casting all your eggs (defenders) in same basket.
    I expect to see rotation (2 to 3) frequently like Pep does to maintain freshness, fitness and form. Not having different squads for different competitions

    1. agreed, rotation is part of Arteta strategy and thus Edu recruitment

      also enables players to form connections – Ramsdale said something interesting the other day “White-Odegaard-Saka have played forever, Zinc-Havertz-Martinelli just one game”

      rotation strategy also has every player on their toes to step in any time, same XI every game can be like your boss leaving being your only hope of a promotion

  7. I agree with your team selection. However, I feel that MA will still prefer playing Havertz, which makes no sense now.

    Trossard, ESR or Nkeitah beside Jesus are better options.

  8. 4-3-3 like every week
    not played one up top since I can remember

    Saliba, Gabriel, Zinc, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli pick themselves in a best XI

    as for the other 4 spots
    Havertz height to counter Everton set piece/corner threat, otherwise Vieira could barely have done more
    White at RB given fresh after a week off
    Nketiah on a high after England call up, also Jesus return trip from Brazil + Peru side trip is a lot of time in the sky
    Arteta loves a surprise selection too, may be that is Raya, with Ramsdale handed CL debut midweek

    while rotation seems like a dirty word to some, same XI can’t play 55 games, rotation starts this week, afterall that was point of strengthening the squad to the tune of £200m

    also with Champions League welcome return on Wednesday, could influence

    Saka knock concern could see Trossard get a run out v Everton so Saka raring to go Wednesday

    if Vieira doesn’t start v Everton then has earned CL on Wednesday

    Tomy to join Ramsdale, Rice, Saka, Martinelli, Saliba and Gabriel Champions League bow

    then of course there is Spurs on Sunday, so no let up from here until May so rotation inevitable and necessary

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