Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton - Premier League | OneFootball

Arsenal are aiming to apply some light pressure to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they visit Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime.

The Gunners will slash Liverpool's lead to nine points should they beat Everton, with Arne Slot's side not in action until Sunday afternoon. While overturning the deficit appears extremely improbable, Arsenal will want to delay the seemingly inevitable for as long as possible.

Mikel Arteta and his players could be somewhat distracted by Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first leg with Real Madrid, with the Arsenal boss perhaps taking Saturday as an opportunity to rest players ahead of a gargantuan European encounter.

Here is how Arsenal could line up at Goodison.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Everton (4-3-3)

Mikel Merino was on the scoresheet again midweek / Visionhaus/GettyImages

GK: David Raya - Everton are not prolific scorers but will test Raya with persistent crosses into the penalty area. The Spaniard will need to command his area against the Toffees' band of giants.

RB: Thomas Partey - With Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined and potentially joined in the treatment room by Jurrien Timber and Ben White on Saturday, Partey may be restored to his less comfortable right-back function.

CB: William Saliba - Following Gabriel's season-ending injury, the onus will be on Saliba to keep Arsenal's defence from imploding. The Frenchman seldom puts a foot wrong no matter his centre-back partner.

CB: Jakub Kiwior - With Riccardo Calafiori also out of action for the Gunners, it will be the lesser-spotted Kiwior who guides the defence alongside Saliba. The Poland international is not always a reassuring presence.

LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly - Oleksandr Zinchenko could come into the team if Lewis-Skelly requires a rest ahead of the Madrid clash, but Arteta may not risk making further changes to his weakened backline.

CM: Martin Odegaard - The skipper has been boosted by the return of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with less creative burden falling directly on his shoulders.

CM: Jorginho - With Partey moving to right-back and Mikel Merino leading the line, veteran Jorginho will be shielding Arsenal's back four. He can still be an effective emergency option for the Gunners.

CM: Declan Rice - Fortunately for Arsenal, Rice has unlimited reserves of energy and should be ready for three matches in the space of a week. Everton's combative engine room will keep him on his toes.

RW: Ethan Nwaneri - Saka, who scored on his return midweek, will likely be saved for Madrid's visit to the Emirates Stadium, with the precocious Nwaneri continuing on the right flank.

ST: Mikel Merino - Why sign a striker, eh? Merino produced another goal while operating as Arsenal's No 9 against Fulham, meaning he now has scored three in his last four outings for club and country.

LW: Leandro Trossard - Like Saka on the other wing, Martinelli may be rested for the big game against Madrid, with Trossard filling the void on the left-hand side. He's six games without scoring for club and country and will want to end that run at Goodison.