One more important test comes for the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. This time, Arsenal will be hosting Everton in a match that may solidify the Gunners in their fight for the top of the table or bring some kind of hope for the Toffees in the lower half of the standings. Arsenal is fresh from an emphatic Champions League win, whereas Everton will build on the momentum of the 4-0 win over Wolverhampton.
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Arsenal: Victory to keep the rhythm
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have an up-and-down season, but they do not raise the white flag. The 3-0 win against Monaco brought confidence and showed that the team does have everything to be at a high level, even without some key players. Injuries are a concern for the Spanish coach. Already ruled out are Tomiyasu and Ben White, while Gabriel, Calafiori, and Zinchenko remain doubtful.
Arteta, however, remains calm, trusting the medical staff’s work: "There’s a possibility one of them could be available. He trained today, and we’ll see."
The statement is pragmatic, but it does show the care being taken with players who are not yet fully fit. Calafiori, for example, is being monitored daily to avoid setbacks. If injuries pose a challenge, Arteta does not seem worried: "We're so used to playing every three days. We know this will be a tough opponent, and we need to be very good to beat them."
Even with issues in the squad, Arsenal remains in balance and is reliant on such intense players as Bukayo Saka, an essential piece of the club's attacking setup. Arteta avoided labeling Saka as "world class," but conceded the forward's importance: "He's exceptional at what he does and is doing it very consistently."
While working on solving the physical issues, Arteta outlines one of his main ideas when it comes to his philosophy: asymmetries. The manager likes the differences between both sides of the pitch, unbalancing adversaries with attacking alternatives.
"Asymmetries in soccer are great and very hard to combat. Different is good; it doesn't have to be symmetrical."
Everton: Overcoming challenges to find stability
Everton arrives for the match with relief mixed with expectation. The 4-0 win over Wolverhampton gave the squad a much-needed boost as they continue their fight to move away from the relegation zone. The derby against Liverpool was postponed last weekend due to strong winds, giving Sean Dyche's team something rare in the Premier League: extra time to prepare.
Dyche, a coach more about hard work and collective effort, lifted up his eyes toward the union of the group during such difficult moments: "The strength of the group has been since I got here. They have gone through big challenges and keep going, working hard."
Michael Keane's return after a knee injury is an excellent option in defence, while sessions for Coleman, Broja, Chermiti, Patterson, and O'Brien - to improve their fitness - extended Dyche's options in such a demanding match.
The coach also praised Arsenal's effectiveness in set pieces, making it clear his team must be prepared for these situations: "Many times, it comes down to delivery and intent. It's clear Arsenal has put a lot of work into this."
With rested players, Everton will rely on their traditional combativeness combined with tactical discipline. Dyche is straightforward:"We know we have to go to places like this and play well."