Everton v Arsenal Match Preview

With all the, er, excitement of deadline day, with Spurs' derisory bid for Phil Neville and Liverpool well and truly losing it with their move for Andy Carroll, this game has slipped under the radar a little bit.

Lets hope it's aftermath proves more memorable than it's build-up.

Everton travel down to London in the knowledge they have only lost once in eight games and, in fact, have only lost one more game than Arsenal, who sit in second place.

It has been a chronic inability to turn draws into wins that lie at the root of our problems and I doubt we will break that duck at a ground we have never won at and against a team we have not beaten away since 1996.

Even a look back to last season's encouraging performance at the Emirates - where we were denied the win by a last minute Tomas Rosicky goal - is tainted by the fact one of our goalscorers that day, Steven Pienaar, is now running around in a Spurs shirt.

Our record this season against the top sides is one for encouragement though. In games against the top five we have won two, drawn four and lost just once - ironically against Arsenal in November.

The latest of those was against Chelsea on Saturday, when we were unlucky not to make in through to the Fifth Round of the FA Cup with Solomon Kalou's late equaliser securing a replay for the Londoners.

I expect another 'safety first' approach by Moyes in this one as he looks to at first stem the flow of the Gunners attack. They are in fine form - five successive victories in league and cup - but the injury to 14-goal Samir Nasri is a huge blow. Though like most teams at the top they can also point to a fit again and firing Robin Van Persie as reason for Everton to be fearful.

Morale is low among the supporters at the moment and if rumours are to be believed, among the players, management and board members as well. The trasnfer window, far from giving us fresh impetus, has knocked our confidence and given the supporters the jitters.

But to quote David Moyes 'we will go with what we have got' and with the window now shut until the summer a positive result down at the Emirates will at least give us the slim hope that we can drag ourselves through till the end of the season, where the questions about our financial future will begin once more.

Team news wise as said the Gunners will be without Samir Nasri who injured a hamstring against Huddersfield on Sunda.  Central defender Sebastien Squillaci is suspended following his red card in that match.

For the Toffees Tim Cahill is back with the club but will not feature as he takes a few days hoilday following Australia's ultimately unsuccessful run to Saturday's Asian Cup final. Victor Anichebe remains a doubt having missed the FA Cup match against Chelsea with a groin strain while Tony Hibbert will also be assessed following a virus.


MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• It is 15 years and 15 matches since Everton last won at Arsenal; goals from Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis gave them a 2-1 win at Highbury on 20 January, 1996.

• This is the 195th time these sides have met. Arsenal lead by 95 wins to 58, and there have been 41 draws.



Arsenal

• Arsenal are the only side yet to concede a Premier League goal in 2011.

• They have been awarded 14 penalties in all competitions this season.

• The Gunners have the best record against sides in the bottom half of the table, dropping just five points from 13 games.

Everton

• Everton have lost just one of their last eight league games.

• The Toffees have drawn 12 matches in the Premier League this season, more than any other club.

• Everton have yet to lose a match when they have been level at half time, drawing eight and winning three.