After a very poor performance at Goodison Park against West Ham last Sunday, Everton travel down to the capital this weekend to face a side they rarely enjoy playing: Arsenal.
The Gunners are something of a bogey team for Everton, especially when it comes to playing them away from home where the Blues have a terrible recent record.
In fact Everton haven’t won at Arsenal since 1996! Even getting a point there has been a major struggle.
So after what was a demoralising loss five days ago this is probably not the ideal match to follow!
Arsenal for their part have had a slow start to the season although after two opening losses they have picked up since with wins at Cardiff City and then on Saturday another away win at St James Park when they defeated Newcastle.
Ominously for Everton the Gunners have started to find their attacking form in those games. And given how dreadful the Blues defending was against West Ham and how ridiculously easy it was for the Hammers to open them up, they will likely be relishing Everton’s visit this weekend.
If the Toffees do turn in a defensive effort like that again they could be in for a hiding at the Emirates.
So obviously first of all Everton simply have to do a better job defending this Sunday. That though is apparently easier said than done.
There are so many uncertainties still around who will be fit to start at the back for the Blues. Injuries are playing havoc with Everton’s ability to find a settled, consistent defensive unit.
Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka and Michael Keane are all injured and at the time of writing it’s not clear any of them will be able to play on Sunday. Although given the seriousness of Keane’s head injury he’s almost certain not to play.
And yet again there’s still no clarity about when summer signing Yerry Mina will finally be able to make his Toffees debut.
So it looks likely that Mason Holgate and Kurt Zouma will again start at centre-back for Everton. After last weekend this could be a problem to put it mildly. Neither had an impressive game with Holgate in particular struggling to do the basics of defending at times.
I’ve written before that I think Holgate has potential but perhaps he’s not yet ready for the unforgiving environment of the Premier League. I do actually think he’s probably better suited to playing on the right of a back three where he can get away with the odd error and not get immediately punished.
Although I’m not the greatest fan of back three’s it might actually be the answer for the Blues when, or if, they finally get a settled and injury-free defence. If Everton have Holgate, Keane, Zouma, Jagielka and Mina fit at the same time they can’t all play.
A three of Zouma, Mina and Keane might then be a possible starting defence. This could help provide greater cover and stability at the back and would help in other ways too.
Mina is very good in possession and Keane has played in a back three before and as he is not the quickest this might help him as well giving him cover and support inside.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has had an uncertain time in recent games and his distribution cost Everton dear last Sunday. But he played well behind a back three for England at the World Cup and again he might feel more comfortable having further options to pass out too.
In addition one of the Blues troubles has been the ability of teams to exploit the spaces behind the Everton full-backs as they push on in Marco Silva’s pressing game.
Having three central defenders would perhaps give both full-backs confidence that they could push up with more freedom and support the midfield. Just possibilities, it’s all if’s, but’s and maybe’s at the moment.
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Anyway returning to Sunday’s game, another key problem that contributes to the Blue’s defensive woes is midfield. Again the Toffees have few options here as well.
Andre Gomes and James McCarthy are injured, Idrissa Gueye has just returned from a knock and Morgan Schneiderlin is coping with bereavement as his father passed away just last week.
Ironically given all these problems, one player Everton could have done with keeping hold of during the summer clear-out is Nikola Vlasic. He’s young and inexperienced but his creative ability would probably help at the moment as what the Blues need most of all in midfield is some additional attacking quality and goal scoring threat.