Lawrenson backs Arsenal to improve vs Everton as he predicts Sat evening clash
Mark Lawrenson is predicting Arsenal to put in an improved performance against Everton on Saturday night.
Speaking in his BBC predictions column, Lawrenson is not being drawn into the Gunners’ recent run of poor form.
You could argue that for Everton, this is the perfect opportunity to play Mikel Arteta’s side, but Lawro thinks it will be an equal game: “Arteta is getting a bit of flak anyway but his own players have been making things more difficult for him.
“Funnily enough, I think that is one of [the] reasons we will see a response from the Gunners here even if their confidence is going to be low.
“Yes, Everton’s form has picked up again, after two successive wins, but it is a blow for them that they won’t have Allan in their midfield on Saturday because of injury.
“They will still give Arsenal a tough time, and will look to impose themselves on the game in the same way they did when they beat Chelsea last time out.”
Everton head into the game off the back of two impressive victories against Chelsea and Leicester, while Arsenal are without a win in their last six league games.
All signs point towards an Everton win
It is certainly a bold prediction from Lawro, with the Gunners looking abject in recent weeks.
Without a win in their last six Premier League games, Arsenal are currently the polar opposite to Everton – who have regained some of their early-season form recently.
While Everton have their injury problems, as Lawro alludes too, Arsenal will be without Gabriel after he was sent off against Southampton.
The Brazilian will be a huge miss to the Gunners. As per WhoScored, he is Arsenal’s best performer this season, level with Dani Ceballos on a match rating of 6.81.
In the Premier League this season, he is averaging six interceptions per 90 minutes and is giving away less than one foul a game, according to Wyscout.
The Gunners are also lacking any kind of goal threat, scoring just 11 times in the league this season. Only Burnley, Sheffield United and West Brom have scored fewer goals.
Ancelotti’s Everton will no doubt be eager to continue their good form against an Arsenal side that could be there for the taking.
In other Everton news, Carlo Ancelotti shares injury update on Richarlison & Allan after Everton win v Leicester