Sunday 1 March 2015 14:38, UK
Arsenal will want to put Wednesday's Champions League shock defeat to Monaco firmly behind them when Everton travel to the Emirates on Sunday.
The Gunners were left smarting when last season's Ligue 1 runners-up caused the upset of the round with an assured 3-1 win in North London.
Despite the manner of the defeat, Sunday's game presents Arsene Wenger's side with an instant opportunity to respond and pull clear of their top-four chasing rivals.
Contrary to the Gunners, Everton head to London buoyed after booking their place in the last-16 of the Europa League with a convincing 7-2 aggregate victory over BSC Young Boys.
Key to their progression has been the form of striker Romelu Lukaku, who scored five goals against the Swiss side in the last round. He will be hoping to transfer his European form to the league as the Toffees bid to climb the table after an inconsistent start to the season.
Team news
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is set for a short spell on the sidelines following a minor procedure to remove a stud in his ankle which was causing discomfort.
Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini (both hamstring) are set to train on Friday, but are not expected to be available.
Mikel Arterta (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) all continue their recoveries.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez expects Lukaku to be fit. The striker came off early in the second half of Thursday's Europa League victory over Young Boys, but Martinez has played down suggestions a hamstring problem might keep the striker out of the game at the Emirates, saying he is "fine" and "trained well" on Friday.
The Toffees have John Stones and Aaron Lennon - suspended and cup-tied respectively on Thursday - back available, but remain without Steven Pienaar, Aiden McGeady (both knee), Christian Atsu (illness), Bryan Oviedo (hamstring) and Tony Hibbert (knee).
Opta facts
Arsenal have now gone five games without a win against Everton, their worst such run in the history of this fixture.
Steven Naismith has scored in his last two Premier League appearances against the Gunners.
Everton have won none of their last 20 away matches against Arsenal in all competitions (D4 L16).
Mesut Ozil has scored two goals and set up one more in three appearances against Everton in all competitions.
Only Everton (17) and Swansea (16) have dropped more points from winning positions than Arsenal (14) in the Premier League this season.
Merson's prediction
Arsenal will win this match quite easily. Everton are struggling quite badly at the moment and only got out of jail last week with a last-minute goal at home to Leicester.
It is Arsenal all over really, they will get back to normal and then their disastrous Wednesday against Monaco will all be forgotten about. So I do not see anything other than an Arsenal win here.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0
Betting
Arsenal are odds-on to bounce back from their Champions League shocker with a home win over Everton on Sunday with Sky Bet. The Gunners are 8/15 to collect all three points, with Everton 5/1 to inflict back-to-back home defeats upon Arsene Wenger’s men, or 16/5 to draw. The last three meetings between the sides have produced at least three goals and Sky Bet go 8/11 on over 2.5 goals again. Olivier Giroud is 7/2 to make it five goals in five appearances against the Toffees by breaking the deadlock, while Steven Naismith is 3/1 to score against Arsenal for the third meeting running.
Coverage of Arsenal v Everton starts at 2.05pm on Sky Sports 1 HD on Sunday.
