Premier League
Arsenal Faces A Crucial Everton Test As Christmas Title Pressure Mounts
Manchester City could set the early weekend agenda in the Premier League when they face West Ham on Saturday afternoon.
Victory for Pep Guardiola’s side would, at least temporarily, send City to the top of the table and place immediate pressure on Arsenal to respond later in the day.
With the title race finely poised, momentum at this stage of the season carries both psychological and practical importance.
Christmas Leaders: Familiar Territory
If Arsenal do manage to reach the summit by the festive period, it would mark the third time in four seasons they have been top of the Premier League at Christmas. Interestingly, they had only achieved that feat twice in the competition’s first 30 seasons, emphasizing how far the club has come under Mikel Arteta.
Yet history offers a cautionary tale. Being top at Christmas has never translated into title success for Arsenal.
On previous occasions, they have finished third (2007/08) or second (2002/03, 2022/23, and 2023/24). The pattern suggests that while early-season excellence is no longer an issue, sustaining it across the full campaign remains the ultimate hurdle.
Arteta, celebrating the sixth anniversary of his appointment this weekend, will at least be encouraged by Arsenal’s recent record against Everton.
The North London side are unbeaten in their last five meetings with the Toffees, winning three and drawing two.
However, the last two of those encounters ended level, and there has not been a run of three consecutive draws in this fixture since November 2012 and December 2013 a small statistical footnote that hints at how finely balanced this matchup can be.
Goodison’s Successor Still a Difficult Destination
Despite Arsenal’s recent unbeaten run, Everton’s longer-term home record against them tells a different story. Before that stretch, the Toffees had won four of the previous five meetings.
More significantly, Arsenal have found trips to Merseyside increasingly uncomfortable since Arsène Wenger’s departure. They have managed just one win in seven away games against Everton in that period, drawing twice and losing four times.
For David Moyes, those numbers provide ample reason for belief.
Moyes may also point to Arsenal’s most recent league outing as a reminder that the visitors are not infallible.
A flat display against Wolves saw Arsenal rescued by two own goals at the Emirates, hardly a commanding performance, and one that could serve as a motivational reference point in Everton’s pre-match preparations.
That said, Everton must be wary of falling behind. In eight of the last 10 matches in which they have conceded the opening goal, they have gone on to lose.
Against a side as structurally disciplined as Arsenal, conceding first could be decisive.
Everton: Progress Amid Imperfection
Everton remains a work in progress, but tangible progress nonetheless. Moyes has guided the Toffees to ninth place with 24 points just two behind fifth-placed Crystal Palace and four adrift of Chelsea in the final Champions League spot.
There is, however, a clear benchmark they have yet to meet. In the five Premier League games Everton have played this season against teams that qualified for the Champions League, they have lost every one.
Arsenal’s presence in that category may linger in the background as another stern test of Everton’s development.
Arsenal’s Defensive Paradox
One statistic may quietly concern Arteta and his staff. Arsenal have conceded 40% of their league goals in the final 10 minutes of matches this season the highest proportion in the Premier League.
That figure is all the more striking when placed alongside their overall defensive record. With just 10 goals conceded in total, Arsenal boasts the second-meanest defence across Europe’s top five leagues, behind only Roma.
Concentration, rather than capability, appears to be the issue when games enter their decisive phases.
Injuries and AFCON to Shape the Contest
Team selection is likely to be heavily influenced by injuries and the Africa Cup of Nations commitments on both sides.
For Arsenal, Ben White is sidelined after suffering a new injury, while Gabriel Magalhães, Cristhian Mosquera, and Kai Havertz remain unavailable.
Even so, one defining feature of Arsenal’s season has been their ability to grind out results despite missing key personnel a resilience that feels notably stronger than in previous campaigns.
Everton also faces notable absences. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is ruled out after picking up a knock against his former club, Chelsea.
The midfielder has made an excellent start to life on Merseyside, contributing four goals and two assists already this season.
Seamus Coleman, Merlin Röhl, and Jarrad Branthwaite are all confirmed absentees, while Jack Grealish, another player enjoying a renaissance in blue, is rated as only 50% likely to feature.
Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye are both away on AFCON duty, further reshaping Moyes’ starting XI.
Fine Margins, Familiar Pressure
With both teams operating below full strength, the outcome may hinge on moments rather than momentum. A defeat would suit neither side Everton’s European push would stall, while Arsenal’s title ambitions would take a psychological blow.
For Arsenal, even a draw, though it would extend their unbeaten run against Everton, could feel like two points dropped in a title race where Manchester City continues to apply relentless pressure.
As City moves first earlier in the day, the spotlight will fall firmly on Arteta’s side under the Saturday evening lights.
Whether Arsenal can overcome their Merseyside discomfort and keep their Christmas ambitions alive will soon be revealed.
