Arsenal Unleash Havertz Bombshell Against Everton: Injury Updates and Starting XI Revealed
Arsenal head back into Premier League competition this Saturday night looking to maintain their commanding seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Caught between two Champions League round of 16 encounters against Bayer Leverkusen—with the opening leg finishing 1–1 this past Wednesday—Arsenal must overcome the challenging prospect of defeating a resilient Everton squad that remains undefeated in their previous six road fixtures.
As fixtures pile up rapidly for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta's lineup decisions become increasingly crucial. Fortunately, the Spanish manager possesses a wealth of talent throughout his roster competing for starting positions.
Arsenal Missing Crucial Creative Force
Arsenal Missing Crucial Creative Force
Arsenal's recent difficulties in creating chances from regular play have highlighted their dependence on captain Martin Ødegaard, who remains sidelined in the medical facility with a knee problem. The Norwegian will be absent for Everton's arrival and his playmaking abilities need replacement—midweek scorer Kai Havertz potentially stepping into his role.
Leandro Trossard represents another potential absence on Saturday, with the Belgian picking up an injury against Mansfield Town in the FA Cup and sitting out the journey to Leverkusen. Mikel Merino will definitely be unavailable as he continues recovering from foot operation.
Ben White made his welcome comeback to the substitutes' bench midweek after being sidelined since mid-February, while Riccardo Calafiori accompanied him on the Arsenal bench having overcome a minor issue picked up at Mansfield.
Arsenal Expected Formation vs. Everton (4-2-3-1)
Arsenal Expected Formation vs. Everton (4-2-3-1)
GK: David Raya—Arsenal's backline displays have been more unstable than typical in recent matches and it wouldn't shock anyone to see Raya tested by a counter-attacking Everton outfit.
RB: Jurriën Timber—White's injury recovery provides Arteta with right-back alternatives and might allow Timber some rest ahead of next weekend's Carabao Cup final. Nevertheless, questions remain about the Englishman's readiness to start.
CB: William Saliba—Saliba returned from injury against Leverkusen and will need to cope with the physical presence of Thierno Barry and Beto on Saturday. Though not prolific goalscorers, they can create difficulties with their power.
CB: Gabriel—Christian Kofane, Leverkusen's 19-year-old forward, troubled Gabriel at the BayArena and the Brazilian will hope for a smoother experience this weekend.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori—Arteta may look to rotate when feasible and Calafiori could gain from this, taking over from Piero Hincapié at left-back.
DM: Martín Zubimendi—Zubimendi, like most of his colleagues, failed to perform at his typical level against Leverkusen and confronts a tough challenge against players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and James Garner on Saturday.
DM: Declan Rice—Rice will also compete with two impressive fellow countrymen orchestrating play for Everton with their combination of skill and work rate. Few merge those qualities better than the Arsenal midfielder, however.
RW: Bukayo Saka—An underwhelming performance at Leverkusen ended after sixty minutes and the brilliance of his substitute Noni Madueke means Saka must again demonstrate his value to prevent early removal.
AM: Kai Havertz—Eberechi Eze's inconsistent performances lately might see the Englishman dropped. Havertz, who found the net against his previous club Leverkusen, could replace Eze.
LW: Gabriel Martinelli—Though unable to contribute to an impressive Champions League goal tally this campaign, Martinelli's effort stood out as one of the few positives in Germany. With Trossard still dealing with fitness concerns, the Brazilian has a clear path to the starting eleven.
ST: Viktor Gyökeres—Gyökeres settled the previous meeting with his first-half spot kick and could really benefit from another goal following a string of ineffective displays since the north London derby.