Arsenal v Everton: hosts eye return to top after midweek draw

The gap at the top

Arsenal sit second on eighteen points from seven games, three behind Manchester City. A win here would take them to twenty-one points from eight; a draw to nineteen. The Gunners have won three of their last five recent matches, drawn one and lost one, the defeat a 0-3 reverse that preceded a run of two wins and a 2-2 draw in their most recent outing.

Everton are eighth on ten points from seven played, level on points with Brentford but a place below on goal difference. A win would lift them to thirteen points from eight; defeat leaves them on ten. They have won two and drawn two of their last five, losing the most recent 0-2. Neto brace masks a grim night for Everton covered that reverse in detail.

Recent meetings favour the hosts

The five most recent head-to-head meetings contain eight goals in total. Arsenal have won three of them, including the last two, 2-0 in March and 1-0 in December. The other two finished as draws, 1-1 and 0-0. Everton have not won any of the last five between the sides.

What the market expects

The market-implied result probability has Arsenal at 66.4 per cent, the draw at 21.7 per cent and an Everton win at 11.9 per cent. That two-in-three expectation for the home side aligns with the recent head-to-head record and the nine-point gap in the table after seven games each. The numbers see this as a clear home favourite, and nothing in the form contradicts it.

We are covering this one live. Follow it with us in the match centre for the line-ups when they land, the goals as they go in, and the full timeline.