Arsenal have scored 12 goals in their last three games to finish top of their Champions League group and move into second place in the Premiership. They have been installed as second favourites for the title and currently look the most likely to give Chelsea a run for their money in the race to win it. They have put the dreaded month of November behind them and racked up four wins on the bounce in the league, scoring at will. The form of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil should frighten the life out of an Everton defense that is struggling badly. The Toffees have not won in five and slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Watford at the weekend, and they are unlikely to turn things around against in-form Arsenal.
Everton started the season in sensational form under new boss Ronald Koeman, who looked to have tightened up the defense and injected some flair and freedom into the way they broke forwards. They were looking serious contenders for the top four, with Romelu Lukaku firing on all cylinders, but they are currently in free-fall. Their capitulation in the 5-0 defeat against Chelsea seems to have seriously knocked their confidence. Since then they have drawn two and lost two. For years they have had a really solid defense, but replacing John Stones with Ashley Williams in the summer doesn’t seem to have done them any favours, and Ramiro Funes Mori does not seem as solid as Phil Jagielka in his prime. In midfield, they are creaking a bit as Gareth Barry starts to show his age, and an Arsenal team full of pace and dynamism will relish the chance to get at them.
Arsenal have not lost a league game since the opening day of the season when an inexperienced center-back duo cost them against Liverpool. But since Laurent Koscienly and Shkodran Mustafi paired up at the heart of the defense they have been solid. The loss of Mustafi, who will be out for at least three wins after suffering a hamstring strain in the 3-1 win over Stoke at the weekend, will be a big loss. Fortunately for Arsenal, it coincides with Hector Bellerin’s return and the Spaniard will go back in at right back, allowing Gabriel to move across to center half. Gabriel was found wanting several times last season, and Arsenal’s December form could hinge on his ability to form a strong partnership with the dependable Koscielny.
Given the upheaval in the Arsenal defence, they may well concede a goal. Everton has scored in three of their last four games and still managed to put two past Watford, despite it not being enough. Lukaku grabbed both and will be a constant menace to Gabriel.
But the way Arsenal are attacking at the moment means they are likely to score at least a couple against this poor Everton defense. They put three past Stoke, four past Basel in the Champions League and five past West Ham. Forgetting about a league cup game in which they played their reserves, before the West Ham game they scored three against Bournemouth and two past Paris Saint-Germain defense. Sanchez has been devastating up front, Ozil is popping up with crucial goals and Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are finally starting to deliver on their promise, while the absence of Santi Cazorla is not being felt as sharply in the middle of the park as Grant Xhaka adapts to the Premiership (although he must watch his discipline).
It all points to an exciting, free-flowing game in which Arsenal will be disappointed if they don’t manage to outscore Everton. Arsenal is very well priced at 1.91 with William Hill, Betfred, and Bet Stars to win this game and that looks a great bet on a team that has won four in a row playing against a team that has not won in five. Both teams have question marks over their defense, so both teams to score looks interesting at 1.65 with William Hill. To take it one step further, you could double up on that and back Arsenal to win and both teams to score at 3.75 with Green Listed Bookmaker William Hill, a generous price when Sky Bet and Betway will only go to 3.25. Sanchez to score at any time looks a good bet too at 2.38 with Unibet.
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