Keeping cleansheet against them today has always been my dream,this is the day that they will know who’s better between Me and their overated Raya’: Everton Goalkeeper Pickford reveals His plans to spoil Arsenal title hope today
With a wonderful April full of points and positive results, Everton secured Premier League safety for another season – what will be their 70th consecutive campaign in top-flight football – after a tumultuous campaign that saw the side play quite well, all things considered.
The side was, one could say, artificially forced into the relegation battle this year, after two different point deductions for financial discrepancies; without them, the team would be vying with Brighton at the middle of the table. Sean Dyche battled through it all and kept his side full of belief and fury – even with periods of poor play and suffering; whether he remains the boss next year or not, he has brought the team through one of the most difficult periods of its history without falling into the Championship.
Yet he has one more match this season to boss Everton through, and it will be no small feat to take a point – let alone three points – from an Arsenal side that are still fighting to win the Premier League on the 20-year anniversary of The Invicibles historic Premier League title run.
Former Everton captain Mikel Arteta has bossed the side to a really remarkable year, having bettered their form from the failed title chase just a year ago. The team is young and hungry, full of passion and energy, but they will be facing a Blues side that has shown unbelievable determination and grit across the last three seasons to ensure that Goodison Park gets the sending-off it so richly deserves.
For the Blues, progress has been witnessed across the campaign. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has found form recently after suffering for long stretches, Idrissa Gana Gueye has played hero once or twice across the season, Jarrad Branthwaite remains the greatest gift Don Carlo Ancelotti left the Toffees with, and Youssef Chermitti appears to have lots of talent to contribute moving forward.
So many impacted how the Everton season went, and all deserve plaudits for doing their part to ensure that the side stayed out of the relegation territory – even if by just a win here or there.
A win here, at the Emirates Stadium in North London, would hand Manchester City the Premier League trophy for a fourth year, no matter their own result against West Ham. With a loss, however, the door remains open for Arsenal to win, if only another former Toffee – David Moyes – can work a bit of magic himself.
So, who will win on Sunday in London?
