Everton v Arsenal
Barclays Premiership
Goodison Park
Sun, Mar 18, 2007, 4pm (uk time)
Everton bid to cement their place in the top six with victory
against an Arsenal side still smarting from a disastrous ten-day
spell that saw them crash out of three competitions.
The Gunners have only the incentive of clinching a top-four
position for the 11th successive season after losing the Carling
Cup final to Chelsea, an FA Cup fifth round replay at Blackburn
Rovers and a tight two-legged Champions League clash with PSV
Eindhoven.
Arsene Wenger rested defenders Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy and
brought in Justin Hoyte and Johan Djourou for the midweek clash at
Aston Villa and also drafted in Abou Diaby for Alex Hleb who has a
knee injury.
Tomas Rosicky is in contention for a starting spot after winning a
place on the bench at Villa following his recovery from a groin
problem, but Thierry Henry (stomach/groin) is out for the season
and Robin van Persie (foot) is still some way from fitness.
Toure and Clichy have served their suspensions and are available
for selection again, but Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor still
have one game of their bans to serve.
Everton boss David Moyes has done well to keep his side in
contention for a UEFA Cup spot despite being without key players
for lengthy spells because of injury this season.
Tim Cahill is unlikely to play again this term after breaking a
metatarsal, while James McFadden is sidelined until next month with
a similar injury.
Patrick Boyle (back), Nuno Valente (calf) and Andy van der Meyde
(groin) are all expected to miss this weekend's game.
Moyes' side have only lost one of their last seven Premiership
games since the New Year's Day defeat at Manchester City though and
are particularly strong at Goodison Park where they have only lost
on three occasions so far this term.
At the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, van Persie's
second-half equaliser helped the Gunners hit back to draw 1-1,
while on Merseyside last term, Moyes' side won 1-0 thanks to James
Beattie's first-half goal.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
