The Saturday fixtures of the 31st round of the English Championship begin with a matchup at Goodison Park, where Everton will host Arsenal. I’m backing a bet on the outcome of this game with strong chances for success.
Match Preview
David Moyes’ team played a derby against Liverpool in the last round but suffered a 0-1 defeat at their opponent’s home ground. Despite the loss, Everton performed decently and could have earned a draw. Prior to this match, the team had drawn four games in a row. Currently, the Toffees sit in 15th place, though they have a solid 14-point cushion over the relegation zone.
It’s unlikely that Everton will be caught by teams from the lower half of the table, but adding a few more points would give them extra security. After Moyes’ managerial change, the team gained some good momentum, remaining unbeaten in nine consecutive league matches (four wins, five draws) before the Merseyside derby defeat.
Arsenal continues to impress with consistent performances and results. Under Mikel Arteta, the Gunners are unbeaten in their last four league matches (two wins, two draws) and remain in second place, 12 points behind Liverpool. In their last 20 Premier League games, Arsenal has lost just once, securing 12 wins and seven draws.
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In their previous two home matches, Arsenal picked up maximum points, narrowly beating Chelsea 1-0 and then edging past Fulham 2-1. Arsenal’s defense has also been solid, conceding just 25 goals—best in the Premier League.
Probable Lineups
Everton: Jordan Pickford, Vitaliy Mykolenko, Jake O’Brien, James Tarkowski, Jarred Branthwaite, Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure, James Garner, Jack Harrison, Carlos Alcaraz, Beto Gomes
Arsenal: David Raya, Miles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Magalhães, William Saliba, Jurriën Timber, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri
Match Facts and Head-to-Head
- The first meeting between these teams this season ended in a 0-0 draw
- The “Total Over 2.5” bet has hit in two out of the last five encounters
- The “Both Teams to Score” bet has played out in just one of the last five matchups
Prediction
Everton has been tough to beat at home against Arsenal in recent seasons, losing only once in their last six home meetings (four wins, one draw). Importantly, the Toffees haven’t lost by more than one goal in their last 12 consecutive Premier League matches. Therefore, my bet is on an Everton win with a handicap (+1.0) at odds of 1.65.
