Arsenal Stadium London
Everton is gearing up to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, seeking to end a long-standing winless streak in front of fans. Since David Moyes returned to the club in January 2025, Everton has secured a dozen away victories, yet a triumph against Arsenal remains elusive. The last time Everton emerged victorious against Arsenal in front of a crowd was in 1996, a year marked by significant events such as the birth of Dolly the cloned sheep and royal divorces. This Saturday, the Blues, led by Moyes, will attempt to overcome the challenge posed by the table-topping Gunners, managed by Mikel Arteta, a former Goodison Park signing.
David Prentice wrote in the ECHO: “There was one gleeful Gunner at Highbury on Saturday. Double-winning captain Frank McLintock took Bob Latchford’s advice and had £20 on Everton to secure their first win there since 1987 (when nine years seemed a long such drought for the Blues!) at 7/2. ‘It was the best bet of the day,’ said Big Bob, now a regional manager at Ladbrokes. The betting chain had probably looked at Everton’s appalling record there and Ian Wright’s incredible strike rate against the Blues. What they hadn’t reckoned with was Arsenal’s decimated squad and Joe Royle’s own gambling expertise.”
David Prentice continued: “The Everton manager selected an ultra-attack minded formation with four forwards (goalscorers Graham Stuart and Andrei Kanchelskis plus Duncan Ferguson and Daniel Amokachi) on the pitch. It meant for a game of many openings, but Neville Southall won the goalkeeping glory. The goal that beat him was exceptional – and from a wholly predictable source. Ian Wright made it his personal mission to cause the Blues as much grief as is humanly possible. The Blues deservedly equalised four minutes into the second half. Stuart waltzed around Seaman before slotting in goal number 11 for the season.”
David Prentice added: “The winner came six minutes from the end with a throw-in by Barry Horne – who Prentice observed had dropped solidly into the right-back role – falling to Kanchelskis on the edge of the area and the winger beating England number one Seaman with a left-foot drive.”
Afterwards, Everton manager Royle remarked: “Andrei had been very quiet, but he has match-winning qualities. We did gamble by keeping four forwards on the pitch, but it has paid off for us with two goals. As for Graham Stuart, he is getting better and better. I have said many times when I came to Goodison Park, I thought he was a jack of all trades, but he is far, far, better than that. If (England manager) Terry Venables is looking for someone to run around the front two he can do that. There is no-one playing better in that position in the country at the moment.”
The upcoming match at the Emirates Stadium represents not only a chance for Everton to break their winless streak but also a test of their current form against a formidable Arsenal side. With Mikel Arteta at the helm, the Gunners have been in impressive form, making the task even more challenging for the Blues. The historical context of Everton’s previous victory adds an intriguing layer to this encounter, as fans eagerly anticipate whether history will repeat itself or if the Gunners will maintain their dominance.
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