Seamus Coleman returns to the Everton team after remaining sidelined for 5 games.
Defence:
Right back: Seamus Coleman
The Everton captain will return to the starting lineup after missing five games due to injury. Mason Holgate has been doing a monumental job in the RB role but the return of Coleman, a proper, traditional right back means that the Toffees have better armory in that department. We have seen that the Irishman often joins the attack and combines well with the right winger, making the overlapping runs. Arsenal’s defence is susceptible and can be exploited.
Centre back: Mason Holgate
Holgate’s rustiness has vanished and the 24 year old has regained his match sharpness. The player has been terrific in the last couple of games and slowly reaching the level of form we expect from him keeping his last season’s magnetic displays in mind.
A misfiring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang does ease up a little pressure on the centre backs but the threat still remains and Holgate will be the right man to cause the Gabonese trouble positionally.
Centre back: Michael Keane
This means that Yerry Mina will be rested for this game which is acceptable considering the fixtures coming thick and fast in the festive period. Keane will be important to keep Aubameyang in check aerially. The Englishman has stepped up as a leader in the backline and deserves a lot of praise.
Left back: Ben Godfrey
Everton’s Mr. Versatile has shown his mettle in every position he’s played in. The former Norwich man is making considerable progress in an unfamiliar left back role. In the game against Chelsea, he was defensively sound and didn’t venture ahead but we saw glimpse of his attacking against the Foxes as he tried to combine with Richarlison. Against Arsenal, he will have to keep Nicolas Pepe in check but could have a psychological edge given Ivorian’s low on confidence.