Everton perfect opponents for Arsenal to banish Monaco memory

When Arsenal and Everton met at Goodison Park in April last season it carried huge importance in the race to finish in the top four.

The Toffees were the latest opponents trying to oust the Gunners from their regular status as a Champions League team and looked likely to make good on their threats with a 3-0 win.

As they were to find out later that season, then realise further throughout the current campaign, it takes more than one win to challenge the relentless consistency Arsene Wenger has built his career on.

Almost 12 months down the line, Roberto Martinez takes his Merseyside mob to north London facing a completely different task. His side have failed to find the level of performances they produced last term and sit in 12th place in the Premier League.

Relegation isn’t completely out of the question for the Spaniard, as he holds just a six-point advantage over the teams in the drop zone. Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to churn out another European battle at the Emirates.

Only two sides have a better record playing in their own stadium than the Gunners, who have only lost once at their gaff this term.

Everton have accrued a pathetic one point on the road to teams that sit in the top half of the table and can speak of only three goals scored in those games. They last visited Arsenal and won in the 1995/96 season and have claimed only four draws from their last 20 visits there in all competitions.

The 4/7 on a Wenger victory is therefore a very tasty price considering the pair’s history and current form, while the desperation to banish the memory of their midweek horror show against Monaco in the Champions League will only add more fire to Arsenal’s belly.

That fire should burn most in Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman was guilty of a wasteful performance against Monaco and will want to get Gooners back on his side quickly.

He holds a strong record against Everton, scoring three times in his last three appearances against them, and has bagged six goals in his last eight Premier League starts. 11/10 says he nets at anytime, while 5/1 is his first goalscorer price.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £25 in free bets.