EVERTON host Arsenal on Monday Night Football from the Premier League. Chris Clark (@ChrisClark1975) shares his verdict.
Everton vs Arsenal | Monday 6th December 2021, 20:00 | Sky Sports
Rafa Benitez is a man under pressure.
For me he always seemed a bad fit at Goodison Park. The man is a legend across the park, what were the owners thinking appointing him! Everton got off to a fair start to the season, but the bad transfer dealings over the previous season's has bitten them on the arse.
They have not been able to add to their squad sufficiently so once a star man, in this case Calvert-Lewin, gets a long-term injury the back up is not good enough. Without sounding too harsh, a team which starts Rondon, Andros Townsend and Demarai Gray on a regular basis, should be thankful to finish mid-table.
So we have the manager's a bad fit and the squad isn't good enough. I think Rafa is one game away from the sack.
Arsenal meanwhile after a slow start to the season have found some rhythm under Mikel Arteta, in my opinion they were unfortunate to lose at Old Trafford, they had plenty of opportunities to take all three points. The Gunners appear to have their feet at home, but away from home they've lost to their rivals…Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd. Everton are not their rivals.
With the Premier League matches coming thick and fast, matches are likely to go one of two ways. Tight 0-0 affairs, or stretched matches with plenty of space and attacking chances.
Arsenal will look to stretch Everton and I've always been a fan of Martinelli, however he seems injury prone, but when he plays he makes things happen.
On the opposite side of that you have Lucas Digne at full back for Everton who is a hot-head. He's already picked up four bookings this season, his latest came against Liverpool in mid-week when he got fed up with Salah and Alexander-Arnold running past him. He'll lose his head again on Monday, with Martinelli or Saka jetting by him. Digne is 16/5 to get a card with Paddy Power.
Arsenal have too much fire-power for Everton to handle, and you can imagine the mood being very tense and tetchy after the Liverpool result. If Arsenal score early it could get very toxic inside the stadium. I tend to think this will be Rafa's last game in charge of Everton. Arsenal will win, but I cannot trust Arsenal to keep a clean sheet away from home. Arsenal to win and BTTS is 7/2 with Bet 365
Best Bets
Everton vs Arsenal – Arsenal to win and Both Teams To Score (7/2 Bet365)
Everton vs Arsenal – Lucas Digne to be carded (16/5 Paddy Power)
