BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton is predicting a narrow victory for Premier League leaders Arsenal when they travel to face an injury-hit Everton this Saturday. The Gunners aim to maintain their position at the summit during the festive fixture crunch.
Injury Blow Clouds Everton's Preparations
The build-up to the match at Goodison Park has been dominated by fitness concerns for the home side. Key midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is almost certain to miss the clash after leaving last weekend's defeat to Chelsea clutching his hamstring.
Dewsbury-Hall later posted on social media describing the issue as a "little blip," but such injuries typically require a minimum of two weeks' recovery. Fellow star Jack Grealish is also a major doubt, compounding manager David Moyes's selection headache.
To make matters worse for the Toffees, the squad is further depleted by the absence of Idrissa Gueye and the influential Iliman Ndiaye, who are both on international duty with Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Sutton's Verdict: Gunners to Grind It Out
In his weekly predictions column, Sutton highlighted these absences as a decisive factor. He pointed to Arsenal's ability to secure results even when not at their fluent best, as evidenced by their fortunate 2-1 win over Wolves, which featured two own goals including a late winner.
"Arsenal got very lucky with the way they beat Wolves last time out, but is that the mark of champions, that they can find a way to get over the line?" Sutton wrote. He acknowledged Everton's solid form—four wins in their last six matches—but believes the injury crisis will prove too significant an obstacle.
"To be without all four of them would be a massive blow," Sutton stated, referring to Dewsbury-Hall, Grealish, Gueye, and Ndiaye. "Because of that, I am going for a narrow Gunners win." His final prediction is a 1-0 victory for Mikel Arteta's side.
Title Race Pressure Remains Intense
The result carries significant weight in the tightly-contested Premier League title race. Arsenal currently sit top, but Manchester City remain just two points behind in the standings.
After seeing an early-season margin for error eroded, Arteta will be desperate for his team to secure all three points on Merseyside and rebuild a cushion heading into the Christmas period. A win would ensure they stay at the league's pinnacle over the festive fixtures.
Everton, meanwhile, face a formidable challenge in halting the Gunners' momentum without several of their most important creative and defensive players. David Moyes will need to devise a tactical plan to overcome what Sutton describes as a "stinker" of a situation.
