Arsenal vs Everton

Everything to play for tonight, I'd be ecstatic with a win but I'd probably take a draw now, much like the Spurs game. Arsenal will be going for it tonight, if you take a look at the league a win will put some clear daylight between them and Chelsea / Spurs / us and they are undoubtedly on a roll. Need everyone to be on top of their game and we stand a chance.

COYB!

Interesting comments from Jags in this mornings papers saying we haven't turned up in big games this season and we need to change that. Roll on 7.45pm!

Key thing is we have to believe we can win.

My memory is that that particular scenario occurred in our fourth place year.

The RS bleated that they should get a place as EC winners and the Premiership was granted a fifth spot; but Uefa later declared that that would never happen again.

I've said before that with every game that passes a win at any of the Sky 4 comes closer to happening. Let's hope it's tonight and that we can see off some other away day demons this season, too.

To be honest, it would be a really good game if we go toe to toe with them and try and play football (albeit we'd probably end up drawing or losing).

Contrary to what some on here think, we are one of the Prem's good footballing sides and the games against Arsenal are always good. However, I'd prefer it if Fellaini and Anichebe just monstered them and we won 1-0.

Anyone thinking though that if we just 'go for it' we'll turn them over at their own place is deluded. They went and beat Munich at the Allianz and sometimes our former best player doesn't even get in their team. We have the ability to win but, if they're on their game, it will be incredibly difficult.

The players must surely be pumped up for this one. All the ingredients are there for a cracking match, which will give us three precious points!!

COYToffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!!!!

* Leighton Baines is the only player in Europe's top five leagues to have created 100-plus chances. He created five chances v QPR on Saturday.

* Only three teams (Norwich, Reading and Stoke) complete fewer dribbles per game than Everton (5.1).

* Only Fulham and Newcastle attempt more long balls per game than Everton (64).

Instead we will probably talk about some terrible refereeing decision or how the players froze and bottled their big chance.

I hope it's the former of the two.

Regardless. I'm expecting a big performance from us tonight and a cracking game for the neutral. Rewatched the QPR game today and our pitch really hinders us. You can't play good football on that pitch. I'm looking forward to seeing our 4 wingers in action on a good pitch.

Massive game - which is, in itself, something of an achievement. Or progress, at the very least.

COYB!

It's another Liverpool situation. A ground where you could count on one hand the number of times we've won in say the last 40 years... someone'll stat me up on that, I'm sure. That's why I'm just not confident. No other reason. I'd be more than happy with a draw.

I will be there tonight and would love to leave having witnessed the Toffess take 3 points any which way.

In a nutshell, James!

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wilshere-we-ll-do-whatever-it-takes

I'm not sure if Wilshere will play. He was taken off against Norwich and may not be up to full speed after his injury. I'll be glad if he's out because he is a real danger.

Over to you Moyes, earn your money and prove me wrong, win it!!!!!!

Could be shite. It is twitter.

Judging by Kevin's stats we must really mix it up a lot. It shows that we pass a lot too without stating it. Or am I deluded?

Agree about Mertesacker playing especially after the goal they conceded against Norwich. They will be worried about corners and free kicks. They had their luck against Norwich. All I ask is for fair refereeing. COYB

Draws are no use, so please Mr Moyes lets attack and go for it. We have nothing to lose. If we sit back and hope to nick a draw, we will get done and lose 1-0. Let's have a good go. I would rather lose 5-3 having tried, rather than defend and lose 1-0.

They play there as if they're playing CB, quite happy to let people run in behind them and only bothered about covering one side of the pitch. It's a far different skill to know when to pass runners off to your CBs and covering centrally whilst your midfield partner goes forward. Heitinga just cannot do this, no one in the team can apart from Gibson and Neville. (Unfortunately Neville can't do the other side of the game which is: What to do with the ball.)

.................Howard
Coleman...Jagielka...Distin...Baines
...................Gibson
..........Osman........Fellaini
Mirallas........................Pienaar
.....................Anichebe

The three to combat their midfield and the two wide players mixing up the focus of the attack and running at their weak centre-halves.

The next four weeks are the acid test for Moyes and his current band of players, win away at Arsenal and there is the spring-board and incentive to kick on for a real shot at 4th place. Big ask given our previous form at the Emirates and Anfield, however the hoodoo needs laying to rest and there can be surely no bigger incentive to the likes of Fellaini in achieving 4th place. My heart says yes but my head says no...

Onwards Evertonians !

I wish he would stop labelling us as underdogs, he should be displaying a positive attitude. Arsenal are there for the taking tonight, and I have a feeling this could be our day. COYB!!!!!!!

The Europa League might not be ideal from a footballing perspective as you point out (injuries etc.). But I for one would love the opportunity to travel around Europe to see my team again, in either CL or EL.

A warm evening drinking beer in a square in Lisbon or Rome is certainly a preferable pre-match scene to huddling in a packed boozer in Stoke with the rain lashing down outside!!

3 centre halves, wing backs Coleman & Baines.

3 central midfield (otherwise we will get outnumbered)Fellaini Gibson Pienaar. Mirallas behind Anichebe.

That formation lets us keep it tight in midfield, but when we have the ball it, if played correctly, is very attack minded.

.......................Howard
Coleman.......Jagielka.....Distin........Baines

..............Gibson....... Fellaini.........

Mirallas..................................Pienaar
......................Anichebe
........................Jelavic

Gibson & Felli battle with Wilshere & Carzola. Let's get up and at them and go for it!!

Then moving into 3rd on Saturday.

Could happen.

I understand the desire for European football but ultimately if we are serious about CL qualification, it would be a massive hindrance given our squad size. I think it will find Spurs out this season and both the other English participants Newcastle and the RS have had poorish seasons.

So I guess the question is should our ambition be to accept our financial limitations and take the crumbs off the CL table or realise that the only current realistic way of a breakthrough is Top 4 and the financial rewards of the CL? That's a genuine question by the way because my head says one thing and my heart says another!

The Gosling goal game, The Capitulation v Liverpool were big but this one sees a real shot at CL if we get 3 points.

The FA Cup final was probably the biggest... but surely this one is up there?

Or am I being the dramatic American?

Is it too early to bevvy?

Oh what the heck - COYB, you can do it!!

Onto tonight, if Ossie misses out then it probably is Heitinga coming in - I just pray it isn't Phil Neville's swan-song. It doesn't fill me with confidence but Heitinga is almost certainly our best option. It shows just how thin our midfield options are. Of course, had Moyes attempted to bed in Barkley or Oviedo over the course of the season one of them may have been able to step in to fill the void. Alas that hasn't happened and we are where we are.

If Osman is fit then the team names itself. Victor and Fellaini could bully that Arsenal defence if they are up for it tonight. Lets hope they are.

We have to just go for it.

11 years and no win away to the ars - now or never Davey. A full squad, no injuries or suspensions so no excuses there. A defeat and CL is as good as over, a draw and it'll be looking very grim indeed as we'd have played more games than the others, a WIN and we're only behind spurs and chelsea on GD! (All be it having played more games).

Given that a draw is not much use, there is really only way to play this and that is simply to go for it.

Will be interesting to see if Davey buy breaks out of his caution first shell or reverts back to KITAP1.........

Am certainly looking forward to this one....with a 5 point cusion over Liverpool, we need to throw the preverbial sink at them tonight!

COYB!!!

It's how we perform? And which one of the Jekyll & Hyde decides to show tonight.

I own a small business here and one of the very small benefits around the stu,pid long hours and stress is I get to make my own hours. I'm leaving this afternoon to watch the game at the local Irish pub.

And I will most definitelty be "bevvying" by 2 pm.

I'm actually nervous and need one or two. Or three...

.................Howard

Coleman Jags Distin Baines

..........Fellaini Gibson

Mirallas... Barkley... Pienaar

...............Anichebe

Arsenal are in the same boat and were once again lucky on Saturday. We could hope they are below par again today but I for one would not like to rely on that and force the issue from the start instead of bottling up in a defensive formation. You cannot go to places like The Emirates or Old Trafford and play on the back foot for 90 minutes as they have many players capable of scoring goals.

Moyes no doubt will carry on regardless with his usual tactics and make it a nail-biting evening for the Blues but he surely has to know that one point is useless. The same team will start unless Osman is injured after Saturday's withdrawal and as long as they tackle well and pass well then they should at least get a draw albeit of little consequence.

Nick Entwistle

For most of the season I've been begging for that team. Tonight though I really think Fellaini could dominate their centre backs.

I'd have volunteered to be the pessimistic one... ... but I can't. I think that we're in with a real shout!!
COYB

I'll be satisfied if we do that... and, if we play like that, we'll have a great chance of coming away with some points.

They to score first, then big Vic followed by Jeli... 2 -1 to us.

Come on you Blues.

If we get anything less than a win tonight then all you will hear is that we somehow bottled it, Moyes choked, he told them not to win, we sat back blah blah blah. The excuse 'they were better than us on their own ground and battered us' does not belong in the TW vocab. It is never an excuse – there is always someone to blame.

The concept of a team being better than us and forcing us into defending for portions of the game also does not exist in the TW mind. On this site we dictate the entire 90 minutes regardless of the opposition, so if we're back defending then it's because Moyes told us to, even if he's on the touchline shouting 'forward' at his players.

Also if we play like Stoke, defend all match and score from a corner then by magic the football was amazing and Moyes is a genius (the football was amazing part only lasts until the next debate about Moyes's tenure where it gets compiled under the '11 years of hoofball' section). If we batter Arsenal and lose or draw thanks to any one from refereeing error, individual mistake, speculative wondergoal, or deflected fluke, then suddenly the football was dour an Moyes is a tactically inept PE teacher.

I don't happen to think they're better than us - man for man, I'd wouldn't swop in many - maybe Cazorla, Arteta, Walcott, Rosicky.

I think we've got the better defence right across the back, and a physically stronger central midfield, presuming Gibbo and Fella partner there.

If the Ref is willing to allow a hard but fair game I fancy us to batter these, so long as we keep our shape and don't leave them room to use pace on the break too often.

COYFB!!
(Now for a brandy and Brufen combo - head's battered with nerves for this one)

The excuse ....they were better than us and battered us has been used on 40 plus occasions in David's reign. I think the problem lies with his inferiority complex when we play away games at Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd etc.

Hopefully tonight he realises it is shit or bust, a draw is not enough, and sets the team up accordingly.

In response to your post, I would ask you to re-read the first couple of lines in your post and then maybe watch the Wigan cup game at your leisure and comment on why that maybe happened?

Alternatively how about plugging that bile up until tonight's game is done and dusted and then use it to have a sensible debate afterwards – regardless of the result.

We all want to Blues to win tonight, regardless of performance. However, if the result is shite and the performance is not up to scratch then people are allowed to question why/have a go – lets wait and see which Everton turn up tonight.

Score first go at them and the london tourists will be leaving The Emirates quicker than you can say new stadiums are a curse.

If CL is your tipping point Moyes make a start show some hunger and beat the lightweights.

You won't beat the likes of Arsenal with the team he has by trying to defend for 90 minutes and snatch a goal — not without a tremendous amount of luck and the ref on our side... which almost never happens.

Everton have the players who can attack Arsenal and make a difference early on which is what they should do. Better to go down with a fight rather than a defensive wimper.

Arsenal have been vulnerable in many games this season and I believe they are very shaky on defence so they have to attack too. Moyes, however, will probably continue with the same tactics he has used for years and it will be a nail-biting 90 minutes for the Evertonians.

Some trends have to change, however, and a win in the capital against one of the ''big'' 'teams would never be more welcome.