Everton is facing another injury blow as they prepare for their Premier League clash with Arsenal.
The Toffees recently saw their nine-match unbeaten run end with a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. Despite a strong defensive display, Diogo Jota’s second-half strike handed Everton their first loss in over two months. The goal came after a controversial moment involving Luis Diaz, whom Everton felt was offside and interfering with play.
Manager David Moyes and his squad are now looking ahead to their next challenge: Arsenal, who are currently second in the Premier League. This match will take place at Goodison Park on Saturday.
A positive from the Liverpool match was the return of Iliman Ndiaye, who had been out for almost two months with a knee injury. The striker came off the bench for a brief appearance, which gives Everton hope for more options going into the weekend.
However, Everton’s injury concerns don’t end there. Jesper Lindström, on loan from Napoli, was absent against Liverpool due to a groin strain. Moyes is hoping the winger can recover in time for the match against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Dwight McNeil’s status remains uncertain. The versatile forward, who has contributed four goals and three assists this season, hasn’t played since December due to a knee issue and surgery in February. While McNeil has returned to training, his fitness may not be sufficient to risk him in such a high-stakes match.
Everton’s boss, Moyes, gave his thoughts after the loss to Liverpool, saying, “We’re off the back of nine undefeated so the players had no reason not to believe we would have a chance. We just never got control of the game.”
On the Arsenal side, they are dealing with their own injury issues. According to reports, Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber both limped off during the Gunners’ 2-1 win over Fulham. Ben White is also sidelined due to a knee injury, while Riccardo Calafiori is another absentee for the upcoming match.
Both teams will be sweating on their key players’ fitness, making this an even more unpredictable encounter.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
