Everton need Gunners result with Benitez’s future in doubt

On Monday night Everton resume their hectic December fixture schedule with a match against Arsenal at Goodison Park. Could it be Rafa Benitez’s last game in charge?

Another heavy defeat for Everton to Mikel Arteta’s side after so many poor results and that derby humiliation, might well prove the final straw for Benitez, despite the backing he’s been given by Farhad Moshiri.

The story of an emergency board meeting rumoured to take place either over the weekend or perhaps on Monday which surfaced yesterday, could well include discussion of his future.

And, you would imagine it will be difficult to see how he can continue in his post if the Toffees’ have suffered another embarassment in front of their long-suffering supporters.

That might not happen of course, and its possible although it does seem very unlikely, that the Blues’ might somehow win the game.

In a strange way it’s appropiate to be playing the Gunners at this point in time as it’s almost exactly two years since Arteta took over as Arsenal boss watching his new team play at Everton.

That crisp December afternoon was also the first day that Carlo Ancelotti was seen at Goodison Park after it had been announced he was becoming the Toffees’ new manager.

At the time most Evertonians were content for their former player to become Arsenal manager (although he had been rumoured to be on the club’s short list to replace Marco Silva) as the Blues’ owner had finally got his man.

With the Grand Old Lady bathed in sunshine that day all seemed well in the world and there was genuine hope and expectation of better times to come at last.

Of course, it all proved to be an illusion and two years on Everton are in another crisis and at the moment anyway a seemingly inevitable decline, while Arteta after a difficult first eighteen months or so, is seeing his young side begin to flourish.

Although they were heavily beaten at Anfield recently and lost last time out to Manchester United, there are signs the team is turning the corner and young players such as Emile Smith-Rowe, Bakayo Saka, Ben White and Araon Ramsdale are starting to find consistency to add to their ability.

Arteta has put his faith in young, mainly English players to re-build a Gunners side that has struggled to find a new identity ever since Arsene Wenger’s long reign came to an end.

That clear identity is something Everton haven’t got and I think it is one of the many reasons why this team and club are struggling so much.

As for the home side, Benitez said in his pre-match press conference that Yerry Mina might be fit to return to the heart of defence again at last.

In other injury news, probably not seen generally as quite so fundamental for the side’s prospects, Salomon Rondon’s hamstring pull might not be serious enough to keep him out of contention for a speedier than expected return.

As for Dominic Calvert-Lewin he is still not available yet and it’s another few weeks until we’re likely to see him back.

If Mina is fit to start then Benitez will have to decide which of Ben Godfrey or Micheal Keane will be sacrificed. Given the speed and movement of Arsenal’s strikers I would be tempted to drop Keane and retain Godfrey for his pace.

As for midfield I want to see Benitez do what he didn’t do against Liverpool and that’s play a three and look to dominate and control that area of the pitch.

True, the Gunners aren’t as good a side as Liverpool but Allan and Abdoulaye Doucoure in particular have just come back from injuries and are set to play a lot of matches this month.

I think it would be good to have the extra man to sit deeper, screen the defence and help out in the engine room as well as allow the other two to get forward with more freedom. Andre Gomes is also fit again but the obvious player to go with is Fabian Delph.

Well, I have no idea how the Blues’ will perform on Monday night but given recent form I’m struggling to see the team winning the game so I suppose the best to hope for is a draw.

If the Toffees’ lose once more, the big question is will that be the end of yet another manager or will Benitez hang on still?