For the first time in 25 years, Arsenal will contest the Premier League title on the season’s final day. Back in 1999, the Gunners were relying on Tottenham to pull off a shock at Manchester United – they didn’t. This time, Arsenal must take three points against Everton and hope West Ham avoid defeat at Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s primary concern will be achieving a win at the Emirates. Irrespective of tomorrow’s outcome, the manager has enjoyed the best campaign of his fledgling career. At the turn of the year, the Gunners were 10.1 title outsiders at the bookmakers. With only five points dropped in 2024 from a maximum of 51, Arteta has pushed Pep Guardiola’s City juggernaut all the way to Sunday’s exciting conclusion.
Everton arrives in North London at the end of a tumultuous 2023/24. The club is the first in English top-flight history to receive two separate points deductions in a single season – the total points loss (for PSR breaches) currently stands at eight. Despite these setbacks, manager Sean Dyche has overseen a run of five successive home wins, ensuring the Toffees will extend their tenure in the top division beyond 70 years.
Team news
Arsenal
Out: Timber (match fitness).
Tests: Saka (knock).
Arteta is expected to name an unchanged team. Bukayo Saka should recover from a minor injury picked up at Old Trafford. Leandro Trossard will be looking to extend an impressive scoring streak, netting four times in his last five starts.
Everton
Out: Mykolenko (ankle), Alli (groin), Patterson, Harrison (both hamstring).
Tests: Gomes (face).
Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes sustained a facial injury last weekend and will be assessed today.
Predicted XI
Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Match prediction
Arsenal 4.0 Everton
What are the managers saying?
Mikel Arteta
On conversations with the squad leading up to the big game:
“The only thing that we have discussed is giving ourselves the opportunity to live a beautiful day on Sunday where the dream is still alive and is possible – and it’s football.
“Once we are there, we just have to live the moment and play like every single week and understand that for that dream to happen, we have to win. Then we have to hope again for West Ham to help us to achieve that dream, but that part is on us and is the only thing that we can focus on.”
Sean Dyche
On whether Everton can continue their good form:
“It’s a tough ask. They’re a great side, and they’ve shown that this season … it’s more of a focus on us going and performing. We’re certainly not there for anything other to perform and to compete, and that’s been one of the markers I’ve spoken endlessly about since I’ve been at the club. That’ll be our aim – just to go down there and to play well.
“It’s very difficult. The way Arsenal has performed and grown as the season’s gone on, and stayed in there, and forced their way in there at times. There are no two ways about it, they’re a top side.”
How to watch
Arsenal vs Everton is being shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 1. Kick-off is 16:00 UK time.
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