Everton vs Arsenal Prediction: Another Goodison stalemate for the Toffees

After nine games unbeaten, Everton's run came to an end at Anfield on Wednesday when they lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby. The Blues are back on home soil this Saturday (12:30, TNT Sports 1), where they haven't lost in their last five matches, but their resolve will be severely tested by their opponents, Arsenal, who still harbour faint Premier League title aspirations.

Below are my Everton vs Arsenal predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, as the two clubs meet at Goodison Park for the final time.

Team News

David Moyes has confirmed Iliman Ndiaye is now "back in the frame" for selection after making his return from injury on Wednesday as a second-half substitute. The Senegal international had missed Everton's previous five matches, but his boss has suggested that he could be in the reckoning for a start on Saturday.

Moyes said: "Ili[man] has been back in training, obviously, and we got him some minutes the other night. Look, he's getting closer, it's just that he's probably lacking real match fitness - but he's back in the frame and we're considering him."

Dwight McNeil is also back in training and could be included in the squad this weekend.

Football Odds

However, Jesper Lindstrom has a groin problem, according to Moyes, who has expressed fears it could be a hernia, and as a result, the Danish winger will miss out again on Saturday.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (muscle) and Orel Managala (knee) remain in the Toffees treatment room.

Arsenal suffered a big blow in midweek as Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes was taken off in the 16th minute against Fulham with a hamstring complaint. The 27-year-old requires surgery on the injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Jakub Kiwior replaced Gabriel in Wednesday's 2-1 win and, with fellow defenders Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both knee) still out injured, the Poland international looks likely to partner William Saliba in the centre of defence at Goodison.

The Gunners will conduct late fitness checks on Ben White and Jurrien Timber, but forwards Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Kai Havertz (hamstring) are definitely out of the trip to Merseyside.

Bukayo Saka made his first appearance in over three months as a substitute against Fulham, and the 23-year-old could be considered for a start on Saturday, although another outing from the bench looks more likely ahead of Tuesday's crunch clash against Real Madrid.

Everton vs Arsenal Odds

Everton are 9/2, or an 18.2% chance, to return to winning ways after five games without one. Arsenal, who saw off Chelsea (1-0) and Fulham (2-1) either side of the March international break, are 4/5 to make it three victories on the trot, implying a 55.6% probability.

The draw is priced at 12/5, both teams to score at 6/5, and over 2.5 total goals at 5/4.

Saka made a goalscoring return to action on Tuesday and the England international heads the anytime goalscorer market on Saturday at 21/10, followed by teammates Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard (12/5).

Everton striker Beto missed a golden opportunity to put the Blues ahead in the first half on Wednesday, and he hasn't scored since February 22 but is considered the hosts' most likely anytime goalscorer at 11/4.

Match Result - Draw @ 12/5

Everton have proven a tough nut to crack since Moyes replaced Sean Dyche as Blues boss in January. He lost his first game, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, before embarking on a nine-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, which only came to an end at Anfield in midweek.

While they've avoided defeat in nine of their 11 league games under the Scot, Everton have drawn five times, including four in a row before Wednesday's loss to Liverpool. Their last three outings at Goodison have ended in a stalemate, starting with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool in February before Manchester United came from two goals down to draw snag the same scoreline later in the month. More recently, the Toffees had to stage a recovery themselves, going behind to West Ham United before striking a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw last month.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have won their last two league matches, but both victories came at the Emirates Stadium, and they've drawn their last two away from home. They were held to a goalless draw at the City Ground by Nottingham Forest in February before playing out a 1-1 with Man United at Old Trafford in March.

The Gunners also drew 2-2 at home with PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their Uefa Champions League last-16 tie last month, meaning half (three) of their last six games have ended on level terms.

December's reverse fixture in north London saw Everton grind out a point in a 0-0 under Dyche, while under the Englishman last season, Arsenal only scraped their wins over the Merseysiders, triumphing 1-0 at Goodison and 2-1 at the Emirates.

Arsenal have found Goodison a tough place to visit in recent years, winning there for the first time since 2017 last season, and they could come unstuck again on Saturday.

The visitors have a big game in midweek as Real Madrid pitch up at the Emirates, and their focus could well be on that quarter-final first leg, so with Everton establishing themselves as a difficult side to beat under Moyes, I'm minded to back the draw here.

Player to Receive a Card - Carlos Alcaraz (EVE) @ 7/4

It will be interesting to see if and where Carlos Alcaraz starts on Saturday. Should Ndiaye get the nod from the off, you'd expect him to play from the left, where he does most of his best work. That would mean a change in role for Alcaraz, who has begun Everton's last three games as a left winger, although the Argentine tends to roam the pitch and ends up in all sorts of areas.

Based on performances, Jack Harrison should be dropped, and that could mean Alcaraz switching over to the right, where he would come into direct contact with Arsenal left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly, who wins plenty of free-kicks for the Gunners.

Lewis-Skelly was fouled a whopping seven times by Fulham on Wednesday, with Serbian midfielder Sasa Lukic booked for a challenge on him in the 57th minute.

The 18-year-old has been fouled at least twice in his last three Premier League appearances and, on average, has been unfairly upended 3.1 times per 90 in his maiden campaign.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, is averaging two fouls per 90 and has picked up two yellow cards in just seven league appearances (four starts) for Everton. The Flamengo loanee is shortest priced in the player card market, but his price of 7/4 doesn't put me off backing him for one on Saturday, particularly if he starts in the middle or on the right-hand side.

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