Arsenal vs Everton: 3 Key Battles That Will Decide The Game

Arsenal and Everton are set to meet in an exciting FA Cup quarterfinal clash on Saturday. Here is a look at three interesting key battles in the match.

Lukaku vs Mertesacker & Koscielny

Romelu Lukaku had a goal-scoring return last weekend and he will be primed to face off against Arsenal on Saturday. It is going be a key clash between the Arsenal center backs and Lukaku, and it is likely to be one that might have a significant impact on the game as Liverpool found out during their trip to Goodison earlier in the season when Lukaku almost single handedly won Everton the game.

Lukaku is a battering ram of a striker but he also possesses a certain element of finesse to his game given his ability to move forward with the ball. Mertesacker and Koscielny will have to be wary of his aerial ability and at the same time they have to ensure that they don’t drop off him as he is not afraid to have a go if given the opportunity.

Mirallas & Coleman vs Gibbs

Left back is arguably the most vulnerable area of the Arsenal defense. Kieran Gibbs, the man likely to start against Everton, loves to bomb forward and in fact is really good in terms of attacking ability. However that can be his biggest downfall as well since Santi Cazorla, the man who generally plays on the left side for Arsnela doesn’t really track back and help out in defense.

In Coleman and Mirallas, Everton have two players who have some serious pace and trickery to tear Arsenal apart, especially if Gibbs is caught upfield. This will perhaps be Everton’s best attacking outlet in the game as they will look to create 2 v 1 situations against Gibbs time and again. With Lukaku to aim for in the box, it might also turn out to be their most productive outlet.

Cazorla & Ozil vs McCarthy & Barry

 

Cazorla and Ozil are the two players who run the show for Arsenal. They like getting on the ball, and have the skills to get past players and possess the vision to pick out a pass if given the opportunity to put their head up. While Ozil’s game may have gone off the boil slightly in recent weeks, he still is one of the best playmakers in the league and Everton will take him lightly at their own peril.

It will be up to the Everton holding midfielders Gareth Barry and James McCarthy to ensure that Cazorla and Ozil are not afforded the time and space to inflict damage to the Everton side. They will have to harry and press for the entire ninety minutes and if they successfully manage to do that, they have a chance of nullifying their threat as Liverpool showed in their 5-1 mauling of Arsenal.