Everton vs Arsenal: Premier League Gameweek 17 Prediction & Preview

Match Details:

• Fixture: Everton vs Arsenal
• Competition: Premier League (Gameweek 17, 2025/26 Season)
• Venue: Hill-Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
• Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
• Kick-Off: 8:00 PM GMT (23:00 EAT)

Everton vs Arsenal Prediction: Can the Toffees Halt Arsenal's Title Charge?

Everton vs Arsenal kicks off on Saturday night as league leaders Arsenal travel to Merseyside facing their biggest defensive crisis of the season. The Everton vs Arsenal fixture comes at a crucial moment, with Mikel Arteta's side arriving off the back of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, secured by a 94th-minute winner that maintained their position at the Premier League summit.

Everton, managed by David Moyes, enter this Premier League Gameweek 17 clash looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge. Sitting comfortably in mid-table, the Toffees will look to leverage their home advantage at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium to upset the title favorites and potentially blow the Premier League title race wide open.

Premier League Standings: Arsenal Lead, Everton Mid-Table

Arsenal continues to set the pace at the top of the Premier League with 36 points from 16 games, holding onto 1st place. Everton sits in a respectable 9th place with 24 points, showcasing their solid campaign under Moyes despite occasional inconsistency.

Recent Form Analysis: Arsenal Finding Ways to Win

Everton Form (Last 5 Games): W-L-W-W-L

• Recent Trajectory: Inconsistent but capable of giant-killing
• Last Result: 0-2 Loss vs Chelsea (Away)

Arsenal Form (Last 5 Games): D-W-L-W-W

• Recent Trajectory: Showing champion's mentality
• Last Result: 2-1 Win vs Wolves (Home)

The Everton vs Arsenal prediction becomes more intriguing when examining recent form. Everton's mixed bag of impressive wins and frustrating losses (W-L-W-W-L sequence) suggests unpredictability. Arsenal, conversely, has demonstrated resilience, bouncing back from defeat to Aston Villa with back-to-back victories across all competitions.

Head-to-Head Record: Arsenal Dominate Historic Fixture

The Everton vs Arsenal head-to-head record heavily favors the North London side. The teams have played 57 matches in this era, with Arsenal winning 35, Everton winning 11, and 11 draws.

Recent History (Last 5 Games): Arsenal has dominated recent encounters, winning 3 of the last 5 meetings, with the other two ending in draws.

Last Meeting: Everton 1-1 Arsenal (April 5, 2025 at Goodison Park)

While Everton held the Gunners to a draw in their last encounter, the statistical weight of history firmly favors Arsenal in this Premier League fixture.

Team News & Injury Updates

Everton Injury Report

• Jarrad Branthwaite: Thigh/Hamstring Injury - Major doubt
• Seamus Coleman: Hamstring Injury - Ruled Out
• Merlin Rohl: Hernia - Ruled Out
• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: Leg Injury - Ruled Out

David Moyes faces defensive concerns with the potential absence of Jarrad Branthwaite, a key pillar in his backline. The loss of Dewsbury-Hall in midfield robs the Toffees of energy and creativity.

Arsenal Injury Crisis

• Kai Havertz: Knee Injury - Ruled Out
• Gabriel Magalhaes: Thigh Injury - Ruled Out
• Cristhian Mosquera: Ankle Injury - Ruled Out
• Max Dowman: Ankle Injury - Ruled Out
• Ben White: Hamstring Injury - Ruled Out

Mikel Arteta navigates a significant defensive crisis. The absence of Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White severely weakens Arsenal's defensive structure. Without Kai Havertz up top, the attacking burden falls heavily on Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard.

Tactical Breakdown: What to Expect

Everton: Direct and Physical Approach

David Moyes will set up to frustrate Arsenal, exploiting their depleted defense.

• Low Block: Expect a compact 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 formation to deny space to Ødegaard
• Set Pieces: With Arsenal missing key aerial defenders like Gabriel, Everton will target corners and free-kicks
• Target Man: Physical presence up top to bully Arsenal's center-back pairing

Key Players:Jordan Pickford (Shot-stopper), James Tarkowski (Aerial threat), Jack Grealish (Service provider)

Arsenal: Control and Patience

Despite injuries, Arteta maintains his tactical principles.

• Possession Dominance: Arsenal will control tempo to silence the home crowd
• Wing Play:Saka and Martinelli crucial in isolating Everton's full-backs
• Midfield Runners:Rice and Odegaard may need to make late runs to support attack

Key Players:Bukayo Saka (Talisman), Declan Rice (Midfield engine), William Saliba (Defensive leader)

Probable Starting Line-ups

Everton (4-2-3-1)

GK: Pickford
DEF: O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko
MID: Garner, Iroegbunam
AM: Alcaraz, Grealish, Dibling
FWD: Barry

Arsenal (4-3-3)

GK: Raya
DEF: Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori
MID: Rice, Zubimendi, Ødegaard
FWD: Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Everton vs Arsenal Final Score Prediction

While Arsenal leads the Premier League table, their injury crisis is alarming, particularly in defense. Everton is difficult to break down at home, and David Moyes will exploit Arsenal's makeshift backline.

However, Arsenal's attack remains potent, and momentum from a last-minute winner against Wolves often galvanizes squads. Expect a tight, tactical battle where Arsenal's superior technical quality edges out Everton's physicality.

Final Score Prediction: Everton 1-2 Arsenal

Betting Tips:

• Arsenal to win
• Both Teams To Score (BTTS) - Yes
• Bukayo Saka anytime assist/goal

Why This Premier League Match Matters

For Everton

Sitting 9th is respectable, but the gap to European spots can widen quickly. A victory against league leaders would be a statement of intent and massive confidence booster for the second half of the season. Protecting their home fortress after recent inconsistencies is crucial.

For Arsenal

There's no margin for error in the Premier League title race. With Manchester City chasing relentlessly, dropping points against mid-table sides isn't an option. This match tests their squad depth and resilience; winning without key starters like Gabriel and Havertz would prove they possess champion's mentality.

Where to Watch Everton vs Arsenal

The Premier League clash broadcasts live on major sports networks:

• UK: Sky Sports Main Event / Premier League
• USA: NBC Sports / Peacock
• East Africa: SuperSport Premier League (DStv)

Match Preview Summary: Arsenal enters Gameweek 17 as favorites but faces a stern test against Everton at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium. Depleted by injuries to key defenders like Gabriel and White, the Gunners must rely on attacking flair to break down a Moyes-led side looking to capitalize on set-pieces. A win keeps Arsenal top; a slip-up could blow the Premier League title race wide open.

Stay tuned for live updates, final team sheets, and post-match analysis of Everton vs Arsenal.