Cliff Notes – Arteta leaves out Arsenal’s Saka, Ødegaard for Everton trip
- Arsenal’s impressive record of being unbeaten in their last 60 Premier League matches when leading at half-time highlights their resilience and tactical discipline under pressure.
- The absence of key players Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard for the trip to Everton raises questions about squad depth and the team’s ability to maintain form without their star performers.
- This decision by manager Mikel Arteta may reflect a strategic approach to manage player fitness and rotation ahead of a a midweek clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
LIVE: Arteta leaves out Arsenal’s Saka, Ødegaard for Everton trip
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 60 Premier League games when leading at half time.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has put a brave face on amid the continued disappointment of losing key players, but the latest injury to Gabriel will make him start to question what is going on.
Alongside Gabriel, Arsenal have lost Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz for lengthy periods of time with hamstring injuries.
The Gunners are still second in the league table and have a huge Champions League tie against Real Madrid to look forward to.
But it is starting to get to the point where it feels like the amount of injuries they have will make it too much even for the most positive Arsenal fan to think they can beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Everton Team News
Everton make three changes from the side beaten by Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Iliman Ndiaye is fit to start after making his return from a knee injury at Anfield, while Nathan Patterson and Tim Iroegbunam, who have been long-term absentees for much of the season, also come in.
Vitalii Mykolenko is not involved, while James Garner and Carlos Alcaraz drop to the bench.
The Toffees are boosted by the return of Dwight McNeil after being out for four months with a knee injury.
Everton XI: Pickford, Patterson, O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Gueye, Iroegbunam, Doucoure, Harrison, Ndiaye, Beto.
Arsenal Team News
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes five changes to the side that beat Fulham last time out.
Ben White, Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling all come in, with Jurrien Timber, Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli dropping out.
Star man Bukayo Saka scored in the previous game after returning from injury but is only on the bench this lunchtime.
Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Kiwior, Rice, Jorginho, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Merino.