Everton vs Arsenal will come down to which star shines brightest on the day… Wayne Rooney or Alexis Sanchez
Under-pressure Ronald Koeman goes toe-to-toe with Arsene Wenger in the first game of the exciting Super Sunday
AFTER suffering a stoppage-time defeat at Watford last weekend, Arsenal have the ideal tonic on Sunday with a trip to hapless Everton.
The Toffees have won just once in the Premier League since August, beating Bournemouth in late September.
They're faring little better in the Europa League where they have one point from nine.
Manager Ronald Koeman is under increasing pressure to turn things around.
Despite receiving the backing of owner Farhad Moshiri, the Dutchman appears to have lost the support of the club’s fans.
Those tales of woe put Arsenal’s problems in perspective.
Arsenal were victorious on Thursday night away to Red Star Belgrade, sealing a late 1-0 victory with a goal from Everton transfer target Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal have won just one of their last five trips to Goodison Park.
But with the Toffees in disarray, Arsene Wenger’s side could be looking at one of their easiest trips to Merseyside in a long time.
Our friends at Football Whispers preview Sunday’s game – which kicks off at 4pm on Sky Sports – with all the stats, facts and information you need to know.
Key battle: Ashley Williams v Alexandre Lacazette
When Welsh international Williams traded Swansea for Everton it looked a great piece of business for the Toffees.
But the centre-back has never recaptured his best form on Merseyside and looks a shadow of the player who is so dominant for his country.
He grabbed the headlines on Wednesday, somehow avoiding red for a shove on Lyon keeper Anthony Lopes before bagging Everton’s equaliser less than three minutes later.
Along with Michael Keane he will be expected to stop Lacazette who has four Premier League goals this season.
The former Lyon hitman became Arsenal’s record signing when he joined in a £45m deal over the summer having hit 20 Ligue 1 goals or more in each of the last four seasons.
He has made a good start to life at the Emirates Stadium and was rested for Thursday’s trip to Serbia which suggests he will lead the line once more on Sunday.
Potential match-winners: Wayne Rooney and Alexis Sanchez
Rooney was also rested for the Europa League and has quickly become a key man under Koeman who has used England’s all-time leading scorer at No10 and as an out-and-out striker.
And he has repaid his manager’s faith with three Premier League goals, making him Everton’s top scorer this season.
It was 15 years ago this week that Rooney burst onto the scene by scoring a beauty against Arsenal to clinch a dramatic 2-1 win over the Gunners.
A repeat would be most welcome for Koeman and the Toffees this weekend.
Arsenal should be able to welcome Sanchez back into the side after an extended break following the international fortnight.
Sanchez was part of the Chile side which missed out on qualification for next summer’s World Cup and was left out of the trip to Watford a week ago.
But with Danny Welbeck injured the 28-year-old should be restored to Wenger’s starting XI.
He will be looking to open his Premier League account for the season having notched 24 last term.
Managers’ tactics
Koeman’s tactics are far from clear.
The former Southampton boss has changed formation on an almost weekly basis this season, switching between a back four and wing-backs.
There does not appear to be any consistency in Koeman’s thinking and his squad is stocked full of No10s but lacks pace – the injured Yannick Bolasie an exception.
There is no noticeable style to the way the Toffees play and for all of those reasons he is under serious pressure to turn things around at Goodison Park.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have their plan but refuse to budge from it.
Wenger sets his side out in a 3-4-2-1 system nowadays with the wing-backs providing the width.
Barcelona transfer target Sanchez has greater freedom at No10 with Lacazette leading the line.
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Predicted line-ups
Guessing Koeman’s starting XI is a lottery.
The Dutchman has used six different systems already this season and there is nothing to say he won’t throw a curve-ball again this weekend.
What is certain is Aaron Lennon (muscle injury), Ross Barkley (hamstring), Ramiro Funes Mori (knee), Seamus Coleman (broken leg) and Bolasie (knee) are all out.
Wenger could reintroduce Sanchez after resting him following the international break.
Danny Welbeck (hamstring) was injured during the defeat to Watford and will miss out.
That means Wenger will choose between Alex Iwobi and Mesut Ozil for the other attacking midfield spot. Aaron Ramsey should return in place of Mohamed Elneny.
With Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) out, Per Mertesacker could be in line for another start.
Calum Chambers (hip) and Santi Cazorla (plantaris) are also sidelined.
Key stats
After bagging the equaliser at Brighton in their last game, Everton forward Wayne Rooney has now struck against 36 of the 39 Premier League opponents he’s faced.
The only teams he has yet to register against are Manchester United, Derby County and Blackpool.
In scoring at Watford, Mertesacker bagged his first top-flight goal since netting against Manchester City in December 2013 – a run of 1,4000 days.
The penalty Hornets captain Troy Deeney scored to level the game up was the 18th in succession to find a way past Petr Cech who is yet to stop a spot-kick for Arsenal.