Everton Preview

Evening everyone,
Tomorrow we travel to Goodison Park looking to end a mixed week on a high note. Our record there in recent season has been very good indeed, most notably last season when on the opening day we hammered them 6-1. I wouldn't mind a similar score-line tomorrow but any win will do. Some people will settle for the draw but as Arsene said recently we go into every game looking to win and the attitude will be no different tomorrow.

If we can play our game tomorrow and put in 100% like Wednesday night then I have no doubt in my mind that we will come out on top. At times we may have to put the body on the line and scrap for every ball but so be it. Squillaci and Djourou will more than likely be faced with the task of controlling Yakubu, they may find it tough but they just need to stick to him and get the needed support from Song. Our recent good record should have no bearing on this game. Everton have a good record at home against the top sides so the fans and players will be pumped for this one.

We should welcome Nasri back into the first team and possibly Arshavin with Walcott coming on late on to run at tired legs. Everton will be without Marouane Fellaini which is a good thing to us. He breaks up the play in midfield and is a big presence in from set-pieces so his absence can only be a good thing from our point of view. Heres how I think the teams will line-up beginning with ourselves:

Fabianski

Sagna - Squillaci - Djourou - Clichy

Fabregas - Song - Wilshere

Nasri - Chamakh - Arshavin

As for Everton:

Howard

Neville - Jagielka - Distin - Baines

Coleman - Cahill - Heitinga - Pienaar

Yakubu - Saha

A few selections you might question there. First of all I know Gibbs is back in the squad but I wouldn't throw him into a game of this importance just yet. He won't be as sharp after the injury and in my opinion he has a bit to do before he can overtake Clichy. I know the Frenchman is prone to the odd mistake but his positioning is that bit better at the moment. Then you have the trio of Cesc, Song and Wilshere in midfield, no complaints there surely? Diaby is still out, Rosicky could come on later if we need new ideas and Denilson for me is too defence minded. Again if we're winning perhaps he will come on late in the game. Nasri and Arshavin will operate down the wings if you ask me. Arsene said he would tinker with the team so I reckon Walcott will drop to the bench, he does seem to make the biggest impact off the bench when running at tired legs and that isn't a bad thing to be honest but it means he has room to improve. Chamakh should provide an aerial threat up front. At times we may need to go long if we're struggling to carve them open so it's not a bad option to have. We will also have Bendtner and Van Persie on the bench so plenty of quality at our disposal.

As for Everton, well there are many questions as to what team Moyes will field. It could be the one above or he may opt to play a 4-5-1 formation by dropping Saha, move Neville into midfield and play Hibbert at right-back. Who knows? I don't really care aslong as we play well and get the required three points.

What amazes me is that our injury problems don't seem to be mounting as they usually do but I'm sure they will rise as the season goes on and issues such as fatigue come into play. Speaking of injuries there is still no good news on Thomas Vermaelen. He went for a scan which came back ok but Wenger says there is no explanation behind his pain. It means he won't require surgery but the fact that they can't put a timescale on his injury is rather worrying. There was also a hint that if his situation dosen't improve Arsene may dip into the transfer market in January. Not ideal but we could be forced into spending. Abou Diaby's situation is similar. He has had tests and the results have been encouraging but again their only taking it day by day and won't rush him back and rightly so. Manuel Almunia is set to return to training on Monday and it's going to take one major effort and turn of form to win back his shirt.

Now I've heard stories about Bendtner being unhappy coming out of the Danish press. Well first of all we don't know for sure that this is true, the media abroad can often be as inaccurate as the media in England unfortunately and Arsene himself said he has heard nothing from big Nick. If he is in the slightest way upset then he needs to be patient and take every opportunity he gets. Moaning won't get him anywhere, he needs to take a leaf out of Walcott's book. Hard work and patience has brought on his recent good run of form and has Arshavin take note. Nick has had a decent run of form himself scoring against City and Newcastle since returning from injury. If he performs consistantly when called upon then the boss will take notice and will reward him with more playing time.

Elsewhere I know people have been questioning our disciplinary record and because we have four red cards we're suddenly a "dirty team" too. That is not the case, if you look at the reasons behind the red cards. Bar the Wilshere tackle they have been for nothing. Koscielny's first at Anfield was a dubvious handball, his second was for denying Newcastle a supposed goalscoring opportunity. Song's red was for two yellows, both arguable decisions. So there you have it, disciplinary records don't tell the whole story. Just look at Stoke, they have a good record but everyone still knows their squad contains some of the biggest scumbags in the league. Oh if only the media could read this.

Anyway I'm off out for a bit, fingers crossed for a win tomorrow.
Till then.