Arsenal and Everton are locking up in one of the better Premier League matchups of the weekend. With Arsenal sitting in second place and Everton looking fairly good despite a raft of injuries holding them down to 9th place. This won’t be an easy match for either team, and that often makes for some awfully entertaining football.
Arsenal vs. Everton 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Arsenal are coming off a massive win, but Everton won’t make it easy to keep their momentum rolling.
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The Gunners, of course, will be hoping to parlay their midweek upset of Bayern Munich in the Champions League to Premier League momentum. Arsenal won a hugely emotional match that day as they try to make a claim on first place in the Premier league, but they’ll have to get past a stern and determined Everton to get there. Can they? Arsene Wenger’s side certainly has the talent to get the job done. But Roberto Martinez and his Everton team won’t make life easy.
Key player -- Oliver Giroud (Arsenal)
Giroud has been somewhat out of favor at Arsenal lately, with Theo Walcott preferred at center forward despite his struggles there this season, but when he has played he’s made a difference. Starting from the first whistle or coming off the bench. Giroud has been very good for Arsenal more often than not, so look to him to make an impact whenever he steps onto the pitch.
Key matchup -- Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) vs. James McCarthy (Everton)
A match like this often rides on the midfield battle, and how Coquelin deals with McCarthy -- a somewhat raw, occasionally overwhelmed midfielder against a cagey and skilled veteran despite there only being a six-month age difference -- could be the deciding factor. Coquelin shows flashes of considerable potential, but as often as not his performances can be a little flat. If he has a good day and keeps McCarthy quiet, Arsenal will be much better off -- but if he has a bad day, the defense won’t enjoy McCarthy running rampant.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Aaron Ramsey, David Ospina, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck In doubt: Mikel Arteta
Everton injuries and suspensions
Out: Muhamed Besic, Leighton Baines, Tony Hibbert, Steven Pienaar In doubt: Tom Cleverly
You could find two players with more starting XI and key rotation members hurt, but you’d have to do a bit of looking to do it. In fact, Ramsey, Ospina, WIlshere, Welbeck, Arteta, Besic, Baines, and Cleverly would form a pretty darn good core of an Injury Team XI, if such a thing existed.
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. local
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
TV: NBC (U.S.), Sportsnet regional networks (Canada), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sportsnet World Now (Canada), Sky Go (U.K.)
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