Everton vs Arsenal: 3 key battles to decide Goodison showdown

FBref, won a commendable 2.93 aerial duels per 90 minutes last year – better than 86% of defensive peers across Europe.</p> <p>Meanwhile, despite his considerable frame, Beto provides more threat for Everton through his pace and clever off-the-ball movement than he does with his head, so our offside-trap specialist will need to be on his guard to protect the clean sheet.</p> <p>This weekend marks Gabriel’s 100th Premier League appearance (if he plays), and what better way to celebrate it than by ending the Goodison hoodoo?</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #2 key battle at Goodison </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136390" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-136390" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1778,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1300179337-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1778" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300179337-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300179337-768x533.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300179337-1536x1067.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1300179337-2048x1422.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">It’s been a while since Jesus duelled the Everton defender. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2><strong>2. Gabriel Jesus vs James Tarkowski</strong></h2> <p>Although there are ‘Gabby’ battles at either end of the pitch, it appears James Tarkowski will get the worst deal.</p> <p>Jesus missed our Everton trip back in February and has only featured in short cameos this season, both domestically and for Brazil. But the wily forward is now, thankfully, close to full fitness again and boasts a very particular set of skills that Mikel Arteta cannot ignore.</p> <p>His exceptional pressing, technical security and linkup play are all well-documented and will help Arsenal find holes in the home side’s low block, while good upper-body strength should serve him well in holding off challenges to create goal-scoring opportunities.</p> <p>Nevertheless, a stern test beckons as Tarkowski is accustomed to leading a Sean Dyche backline and ranks among the very best in Europe for making blocks (99th percentile over the past year- <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"https://fbref.com/en/players/15ea812b/James-Tarkowski">FBref).

<p>The former Burnley man also makes plenty of clearances and holds a significant aerial advantage over Jesus – something that will give him the upper hand if the Toffees can force us into a long-ball game.</p> <p>It would be somewhat harsh to drop Eddie Nketiah, but Jesus is difficult to leave out when available.</p> <p><em>Continued on the next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> #3 key battle at Goodison </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_136389" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-136389" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1678351167-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1678351167-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1678351167-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1678351167-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1678351167-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><p class="wp-caption-text">A direct battle for England’s number one? (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)</p> </div> <h2><strong>3. Aaron Ramsdale vs Jordan Pickford</strong></h2> <p>The battle for England no.1 will be decided via a direct contest!</p> <p>Ramsdale has long been championed as Jordan Pickford’s international heir and, on Tuesday, he reified the challenge by making his first Three Lions appearance since June 2022.</p> <p>However, the 25-year-old’s biggest power struggle remains in north London and he must not put a foot wrong this weekend if David Raya is to be kept at bay.</p> <p>Despite bearing little responsibility for the goals conceded this campaign, Ramsdale seems a bit unconvincing right now and lacks the authority he once had in commanding the box, with his passing selections also becoming noticeably more conservative.</p> <p>But he tends to produce his best displays away from home and will no doubt revel in the raucous Goodison atmosphere, where a good afternoon might lead to a midweek Champions League debut.</p> <p>Pickford endured a peculiar start to 2023/24 himself, scoring an own goal at Sheffield United and giving a penalty away against Aston Villa in addition to completing some excellent stops. Yet, his eye for the spectacular is diluted by a tendency to commit inexplicable errors and it may not be enough to save the porous Everton defence.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="B07i0e8Gf2"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/14/everton-vs-arsenal-preview-prediction-team-news-lineups/">Everton vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news &amp; lineups</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="“Everton vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news &amp; lineups” — Pain in the Arsenal" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/15/everton-vs-arsenal-3-key-battles/3/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/09/14/everton-vs-arsenal-preview-prediction-team-news-lineups/embed/#?secret=prJ4AM4Jc1#?secret=B07i0e8Gf2" data-secret="B07i0e8Gf2" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>Gareth Southgate will be watching. May the best goalkeeper win.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">