The final run of the 2025/26 Premier League season is nearly upon us. With two weeks, followed by the final international break, and then the stretch run to go, Everton still have their eyes on an European position, despite a difficult schedule to finish the campaign.
It all begins with today's visit to the Emirates to take on league leaders Arsenal, who sit seven points clear of Manchester City heading into the weekend as they eye their first top-flight title since 2003/2004.
Everton will look to spoil the party as they return to England after a few training sessions in Portugal, leaning into the club's incredible away form as proof that they can be successful at the Emirates on Saturday.
It's a ground Everton haven't won at in quite some time, with the Toffees having won just once (in 2021) since Arsenal moved from Highbury in 2006. In fact, Everton haven't beaten Arsenal on the road since January 20, 1996, when second-half goals from Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis powered the Toffees to a 2-1 win over the Gunners.
So David Moyes will have plenty of work to do in order to get a result, let alone a win, today. And much of it may come down to how he chooses to line up the side to start.
Let's take a guess at how the Everton manager will opt to do so.
Everton's predicted starting XI vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper & Defenders
Jordan Pickford (GK): Much may be needed from Pickford to keep Everton in the match, as Arsenal are one of the league's most prolific goal-scoring sides this season.
Vitalii Mykolenko (LB): Whether it's Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, or whoever else Mikel Arteta opts to run out on the right wing, it will be a problem for the Everton left back. Moyes needs to trust in the Ukrainian in this case, so the manager can bolster the squad elsewhere.
Jarrad Branthwaite (CB): The club is carefully watching their star defender's minutes and training time, but in a match like this, he must play and in his natural position.
James Tarkowski (CB): With JB next to time, Tark can sit back and defend the box, which is what he does best.
Jake O'Brien (RB): In an ideal world, O'Brien could play next to JB with a solid right back option. That world doesn't currently exist, so the Ireland international gives Moyes the best defensive option at the spot for now.
Midfielders
Idrissa Gana Gueye (CDM): He's starting to look a little stronger after a rough patch when he returned from AFCON, but Gana remains a key figure for this Everton midfield, and he's coming off one of his better matches of the season against Burnley.
James Garner (CM): Another major cog in Moyes' side. He needs to be mindful of his positioning, as this Arsenal midfield is not to be trifled with.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (CM): No doubt, he'll be closer to Garner than the front line in this match, as KDH will need to be the link between defense and attack for the Toffees, who need to use the counter effectively to score.
Forwards
Iliman Ndiaye (LW): He'll need to be tidy on the ball, something he's begun to show again after a slow post-AFCON return. The Senegal international will be the trigger man from KDH in midfield to move into the attack when the ball does come.
Tyler Dibling (RW): Do we really think Moyes gives Dibling the start here? Most likely not. But it's indicative of the type of player Everton need to run a swift counter-attacking style. Dwight McNeil lacks enough pace to do the job.
Beto (CF): This is going to be a thankless job no matter which striker gets the start, but Beto might be able to match the physicality a little better than Thierno Barry, who will certainly get a chance to prove his worth at some point in the match, too.