Despite Mutual Affection, Expect Fireworks between Arsenal and Everton | OneFootball

Arsenal were one of the few English clubs to come through their European midweek tie relatively unscathed. 

A 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen wan’t exactly the result they were hoping for. But compared to how their Premier League rivals largely fared, they will certainly be pleased to go into the second leg remaining favorites to progress to the quarter finals. 

Arsenal Eyes on the Title

Attention now turns back to the Premier League and the small matter of a title race with Manchester City. Positively, the Gunners hold a seven-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s men, albeit having played a game more than City have. 

There might well be twists and turns still to come as the final run-in approaches, but if there are any more instances of Arsenal taking advantage of City dropping points, it would be very difficult to see Mikel Arteta’s side failing to win the club’s first Premier League title since 2003. 

Guardiola acknowledged as much before his side’s game against West Ham on Saturday. “The Premier League always, I believe, is the most difficult one, and still we are there, knowing that if we drop points, it will be over,” he said. 

Arsenal also have the chance to heap pressure on their rivals. They play Everton before City kickoff at the London Stadium on Saturday evening. 

The old adage that there are no easy games in the Premier League might not always ring true, but Arteta will rightfully be cautious of the threat their next opponents pose. The Toffees have propelled themselves into the conversation for European qualification and go into the clash at the Emirates having recorded back-to-back wins over Newcastle and then Burnley. 

Shared History

Everton boss Moyes and Arteta know each other well, with the latter having played under the former for many years at the old Goodison Park. 

Given the recent noise around Arsenal’s style of play in recent weeks, which increased following Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler’s claim that the Gunners are “making their own rules” and that he would “never be the kind of manager who tries to win in that way”, Arteta will surely have appreciated his old boss’ comments defending his side’s approach. 

“What’s up with any of those things you say? You’re making it sound like that’s a problem because they’re good at set-pieces,” Moyes said ahead of the game. 

“They’re a strong, physical side and I don’t see a problem with any of that – it’s part of the game. There’s this thing out there where everybody has to play the beautiful game and everything has to be perfect. Well, if we all did that it would be boring. We’ve got some unbelievable managers, and Mikel is one of them, who have come into this country and shown us what they can do.” 

Stubborn Everton

Many of the strengths Moyes credits Arsenal with can also be applied to his own side. The two teams’ earlier season meeting, a narrow 1-0 win for Arsenal, indicates the kind of challenge Arteta’s men will again likely face this time around. 

Everton are perhaps one of the few sides that can match Arsenal’s physicality, and they will certainly cause problems from set-pieces too. 

“That’s why he’s one of the greatest managers the Premier League has ever had because to maintain that level and that consistency in many different contexts and clubs is just so difficult to do and people have to appreciate it because it’s very rare and I don’t know how many times it’s going to happen,” Arteta said about his old boss ahead of Saturday’s clash. 

“You need to have, first of all, some very, very strong values, an incredible work ethic, and so much passion for the game because he’s been through great moments and difficult moments and the way he’s navigated through them, he’s always conducting himself in the same way, and that’s a huge credit to him.” 

The fondness between the two men in the dugout certainly will certainly not be evident when the teams compete on the pitch, however. The potential prize at stake for both come the end of the season is simply too great.