Everton play host to Arsenal in Saturday’s early Premier League kick-off at Goodison Park.
Everton have improved since David Moyes took the reins, sitting 14 points clear of the bottom three with just eight games to go.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are 12 points below Premier League leaders Liverpool, though they could cut that gap back down to nine points.
Paul Merson has now predicted how Everton and Arsenal will fare in what is set to be the Gunners’ last game at Goodison Park.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
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Paul Merson backs Everton to run out 2-1 winners over Arsenal
Merson believes Arsenal would win 1-0 if they named their strongest possible line-up, but he doesn’t see that happening.
The Gunners take on Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals next week, and the tie is likely to be their main priority for the season.
As a result, Merson reckons Arteta will rotate his starting XI, which Everton will make the most of, and he predicted a 2-1 home win.
“This is a hard game for Arsenal,” Merson wrote on Sportskeeda. “They are definitely out of the Premier League title race.
“Liverpool will now have to lose half their games, while Arsenal win all their remaining matches, for it to change and that is impossible!
“Mikel Arteta’s men also have the big game against Real Madrid coming up next week.
“I fully believe Arsenal will rest some key players for this game.”
