Arsenal v Everton: team news and possible line-ups
Arsenal’s brilliant form is one of the great stories of the 2013/14 Premier League so far, but Everton’s strength under Roberto Martinez certainly runs the Gunners close, particularly after their 1-0 victory over Man United at Old Trafford.
The two teams meet at the Emirates on Sunday and picking the right players will be key for both managers, so talkSPORT looks at how they could line up…
Big-hitters back for Arsenal
Arsene Wenger rested several players during the Gunners’ victory over Hull in the midweek fixtures, and many of those stars who missed out will likely return to face Everton.
Olivier Giroud will no doubt come in for Nicklas Bendtner, while Mikel Arteta’s ability to drop between the centre-backs and initiate play may be handy against the energetic Toffees.
The biggest doubt for Arsenal is in their right-back slot, as Bacary Sagna may not be fit enough to start the game following hamstring trouble during the week. If that is the case, Carl Jenkinson could have a tough game.
Deulofeu to give Everton an injection of quality?
Roberto Martinez is likely to keep the core of his team that won 1-0 at Old Trafford intact, though with Arsenal presenting a different challenge than Man United, he could make one or two alterations.
One obvious option would be to bring Gerard Deulofeu back into his starting line-up and field the Catalan on the left. The on loan Barcelona man’s dribbling and directness could cause big problems for Carl Jenkinson if Bacary Sagna misses out.
Should Gerard Deulofeu be given a chance against Arsenal, and how important is it for Bacary Sagna to return to fitness as soon as possible? Let us know below...