Arsenal preview

Everton will welcome Arsenal to Goodison Park on Sunday 14th of November, Kickoff is 14:00 GMT.

The last few games between the two sides has been fairly even.
Last seasons 1-6 defeat at Goodison was not a match that describe the difference in quality between the sides, but was a result of the state the team was in at the time.
The meeting at Emirates later in the season was a close battle, one that Everton might have won.

Arsenal under Wenger is a team that has won a lot of support from other than their own supporters. They play attacking minded football, and its more often than not a thrill to watch them play. Even though, in my opinion, Wengers almost disdainful approach to anything to do with defending has left them unable to compete for titles as often as they might have. This season with the inclusion of new signings Koscielny, and Squillaci to further strengthen their defense, a defense that was already improved by Vermaelen last season, they are looking like a well balanced side.

The fact that they are now less vulnerable to counter attacks due to having a real defensive line, obviously makes the job of their forwarders that much easier. And their forwarders are world class.

Many teams would approach this game thinking; how can we break down this Arsenal team, what is their weaknesses and how can we use those to our advantage?

Everton shouldn't do this of course.

The truth is that unlike sundays opponents, Moyes' Everton is a team that has always been well balanced, with a strong, well structured style of play built to utilize the best of our players abilities. Unlike Arsenal that has just discovered the advantage of actually defending, Everton has always emphasized that all players contribute both when attacking and defending.
The emphasis is not just on either attack or defense, its on both. Because of this we never need to park the bus, we don't need to rely on counter attacks or long throws. And, because of this we don't need to break  records when signing players, our style allows us to outplay any opponent and dominate any game.

I am looking forward to this game knowing two of the best teams in the Premier League is going to face each other, and that this is a game where both teams have to lift their game and play the best football they can in order to win.
As always its down to who wants it more. This time, that should be us.

Discuss in the match thread.

-MF