football.london's Gunners writers decide how they think Mikel Arteta should line his side up for their Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium this Saturday
Arsenal got back to winning ways in midweek, but Mikel Arteta will know his side need to keep that up. The Gunners blew a massive chance to gain crucial ground on Liverpool in the Premier League last weekend and now face the team that Arne Slot's side should have been playing.
Arsenal are firm favourites but there is no chance Arteta is getting ahead of himself against a club he still has strong feelings for. "The human quality and how deep is the feeling towards the club," he said of what he learnt from his six years at Goodison Park as a player.
"The club has been through different stages and recently it has been tough but I love the way they are all together and they go through their storms and the way they face it is a great example with all the instability around the club so hopefully they can find a path now with new stadium, new ownership and keep going and hopefully start a more enjoyable time."
The Spaniard is unlikely to be too charitable though. He knows only a win will do to keep Arsenal's slim title hopes alive. It's crucial that he gets his team selection spot on. Thankfully football.london's Gunners writers are on hand to offer help. Here's who they would pick.
Joe Doyle - Content editor
Mikel Arteta is in a bit of a strange position at the moment when it comes to his team selection. The injuries have backed him into somewhat of a corner, but it arguably makes his job a little bit easier in that regard.
David Raya naturally starts in goal, and I think Gabriel looks like being back fit, so he starts alongside William Saliba. At full-back, Thomas Partey probably has to continue on the right side, with Jurrien Timber back in on the left after starting on the bench against Monaco.
In midfield, it's unchanged: Declan Rice starts with Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard. This trio would arguably have been the first choice for a lot of fans in the summer after Merino's arrival, and we're now starting to see what they can do together.
And in attack, for me there's only one real choice to make: who to start on the left side. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz pretty much pick themselves at the moment. Against an Everton side likely to sit back a bit, I'm picking Leandro Trossard on the left for the link-up play he'll bring in breaking down a stubborn defence, with Gabriel Martinelli able to come off the bench and add some pace as the visitors begin to flag physically late in the game.
Doyle's XI vs Everton: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Odegaard, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
Kaya Kaynak - Chief Arsenal correspondent
If I was Mikel Arteta I'd be looking to capitalise on the impressive display of Myles Lewis-Skelly in midweek. It allows him to move Thomas Partey back in to midfield where personally I think he's much more effective.
That also, in turn, allows you to put Jurrien Timber back at right-back. I think the Dutch defender is way more effective in that position, particularly going forward.
I'm also bringing Gabriel back in to the heart of defence. I think Jakub Kiwior has done a great job covering, but the Brazilian is world class in the role even if there's a fraction of a doubt over his fitness.
The only other points of contention for me are centre-forward and left wing. For the latter I'm bringing Leandro Trossard back into the team. I think the Belgian's movement will be more useful against Everton's deep block. The same can be said for Kai Havertz over Gabriel Jesus up top.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs Everton - Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Odegaard, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.
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