Arsenal vs Everton
England – Premier League
Date: Sunday, 22 May 2022
Kick-off at 16:00 UK/ 17:00 CET
Venue: Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal will be aiming for a win versus Everton and hoping for a miracle from somewhere in order to qualify for the Champions League, despite their slim possibilities.
Nobody would have thought this Arsenal side would finish fifth or higher at the start of the season.
The Gunners have positioned themselves in a position where they cannot finish worse than fifth, despite the fact that fourth place was theirs to take only a few weeks ago.
Two defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have put the former in pole position to qualify for the Champions League on the final day.
Arsenal will only qualify for European football’s elite championship if Norwich City defeat Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defeat Everton.
Given Norwich’s form this season, such a situation is still plausible, although unlikely to consider right now.
The Gunners will be looking to finish the season on a high note.
Despite a fifth-place finish, which is still regarded an overachievement, Arsenal may have to carry the label of ‘bottlers’ into the next season.
Everton will be in good spirits after what happened in midweek when they visit the Emirates for the last time this season.
For many weeks coming up to Matchday 37, the Toffees were in a relegation struggle, and they deserve a lot of credit for turning things around.
Frank Lampard’s side beat Crystal Palace in a thrilling comeback, throwing Goodison Park into raptures and ensuring their safety from relegation.
The faces of the contest were Michael Keane, Richarlison, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose goals were enough to secure three points.
Everton will now go into the final game of the season with a positive attitude and no pressure to get a victory, which could go either way for the Toffees.
Arsenal vs Everton Head to head :
- 3 of the last 4 encounters had goals from both teams.
- 7 of the previous 11 meetings had 3 or more goals.
- 4 of the former 6 clashes at this ground had 3 or more goals.
- The hosts had scored 2 or more goals in every appearance at this venue since 2014, barring just one match-up.
Arsenal vs Everton Prediction :
Arsenal knows they can’t finish worse than fifth, so expectations aren’t a hindrance there.
However, after losing two games in a row, the Gunners will be wary of continuing their recent trend of losing three games in a row for the third time this season.
The Gunners are hoping for a miracle at Norwich City, and they are under pressure to maintain their end of the bargain by taking three points from a resurgent Everton team.
The Toffees will play with a clear head for the first time in months, albeit the Gunners will be tough to beat at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Everton Team News :
Right-back for Arsenal Takehiro Tomiyasu is having a tough time of it right now, as he was beaten mercilessly by Allan Saint-Maximin before being forced off with a muscular ailment on Monday.
Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey are keeping Tomiyasu company in the treatment room, while Rob Holding has returned from his suspension and is a much more fit alternative at the back than Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White, who both reportedly skipped training on Wednesday.
Smith, Emile Rowe was also absent from the practice, but he was due to be replaced by Gabriel Martinelli in any case, while Tomiyasu’s absence should see Cedric Soares return to the first XI.
Meanwhile, Everton’s defense will be bolstered by Jarrad Branthwaite’s return from a one-match suspension, while Salomon Rondon remains on the naughty step.
Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson will both miss the last day of the season, but Fabian Delph and Yerry Mina have a slim chance of making the squad, though neither should be taken lightly from the start.
After their successful midweek exertions, Lampard will almost probably shuffle the group, with Dele Alli, an ex-Tottenham player, likely to start as he looks to help his old side fend off their top-four competition.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Cedric, Holding, Gabriel, Tavares; Xhaka, Elneny; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Branthwaite, Godfrey, Keane; Iwobi, Alli, Doucoure, Mykolenko; Gray, Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison
