vs
Everton
-
Arsenal
Saturday, August 15
2009
Expectations will be high among the sell-out
crowd as Everton entertain Arsenal in the season opener at Goodison
Park. The Toffees finished
fifth in the Premier League last term, as well as reaching the FA
Cup final.
If the club are now going to push
on and upset the 'Big Four', manager David Moyes will be looking
for a win here against the Gunners, who finished fourth last
time.
But there have been off-field
distractions at the club with Manchester City's continued pursuit
of Joleon Lescott.
The Toffees have so far held firm
in the face of two bids from City for the defender, who has put in
a transfer request, which was rejected by the club.
City's transfer dealings have also
loomed large over Arsenal this summer, landing Gunners striker
Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Kolo Toure for a combined fee in
excess of £40million.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is yet
to splash this cash on big-name replacements - Thomas Vermaelen
being his only summer signing so far - as he attempts to win the
title for the first time since 2004.
Everton striker Jo, who returned
on loan from Manchester City this summer, is progressing well
following an ankle injury and could feature.
The Brazilian is now back in
training after suffering the injury in a friendly against Blackpool
earlier this month.
Moyes told the club's official
website: "When Jo went over on his ankle, we didn't really
think it was that bad and we hope that he is going to be okay for
the weekend.
"He is back running now but is
only doing straight line work. He's not twisting and turning yet
but we hope to do that kind of work with him in the next couple of
days."
Meanwhile, new signing Vermaelen
is set to make his full debut for Arsenal at Everton after
recovering from a groin problem.
With Toure having been sold to
City and Johan Djourou (knee) set for a spell out, the 23-year-old
is expected to partner veteran William Gallas in a defence which
was all too often exposed last season.
"Thomas Vermaelen played 45
minutes for Belgium on Wednesday night and came through okay so he
will be available," Wenger told the club's official
website.
But Wenger will have five players
missing - Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Samir Nasri (broken leg), Theo
Walcott (back), Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Djourou, while Abou
Diaby is a doubtful with a groin injury.
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Lescott, Yobo,
Baines, Pienaar, Fellaini, Neville, Osman, Cahill, Jo.
Arsenal:Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas,
Gibbs, Fabregas, Denilson, Abou Diaby, Arshavin, Bendtner, Van
Persie.
