Arsenal take on Everton at the weekend, and it’ll be good to get a hard game out of the way. Goodison Park is not a happy place for Arsenal. We’ve struggled there in recent times, conceding three in the last meeting away to Everton, who were a real attacking force in that display, featuring many of the same players.
1. Romelu Lukaku
When talking about opposition threats in Everton, the player that sticks out like a thorn in the side is Romelu Lukaku, who is in fact now an Everton star, rather than a Chelsea reject. He’s a massive threat. He showed last year what he’s capable of. He made Arsenal look silly, ran our aging players all over the park, causing havoc at any given chance. He’s strong, direct, and a powerful runner, not to mention deadly in front of goal. Really, he’s the type of striker Arsenal should have, and the calibre our midfield requires. He is Everton’s biggest threat, and he’ll be a handle for our defenders, again highlighting the infuriating need for a powerhouse defensive midfielder. I worry that our midfield will be too lightweight come Saturday. Last season Martinez deployed Lukaku on the right hand side and Naismith through the midfield. It was devastating; he completely wrecked Monreal down that left side. Arsene has to be prepared for that on Saturday. He should be. It would be alarming if we fall to Everton in the same way as last time. He is a large part of the threat Everton carry, but it doesn’t stop there. They are a talented outfit, with quality all across the board. It’s a very difficult tie.