Gyokeres leads line as Madueke replaces injured Saka vs Everton
Mikel Arteta has made one enforced change to his Arsenal starting XI for this afternoon's Premier League clash with Everton at the Emirates, with Noni Madueke coming in for the injured Bukayo Saka as Viktor Gyokeres leads the line.
Saka was forced off early in Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich in the Champions League with a quad problem, and reports have suggested he could be sidelined for up to eight weeks. His absence is the dominant talking point ahead of kick off, with Arsenal needing to find a way to keep winning without one of their most influential attackers.
The Friday Injury Tracker
Who's out, who's back and what it means for the next two games.
Back to Premier League business
Arsenal travelled back from Germany with a point after goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice secured a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in midweek. The focus now shifts squarely to domestic matters, with Manchester City setting the pace at the top of the table.
David Moyes brings an Everton side to the Emirates that remains unbeaten away from home in the league this season, though all three of their away trips have ended in draws. Moyes's teams are typically well organised and difficult to break down, and Arsenal will be wary of a repeat of the lengthy wait for a breakthrough seen in the win over Nottingham Forest.
A victory this afternoon would make it seven consecutive home wins for Arsenal in the Premier League, with the Emirates crowd expected to play its part in pushing the team over the line against a stubborn opponent.
Coping without Saka
With Saka facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, the make up of Arsenal's attack will be under close scrutiny in the coming weeks. Madueke's inclusion today offers an early glimpse of how Arteta intends to fill the void, while Gyokeres continues through the middle as the focal point of the attack.
How Arsenal adapt over the next two months without their regular right winger could prove decisive in both the Premier League title race and the Champions League campaign. For now, the task in hand is straightforward: beat Everton, extend the home winning run, and keep pace with City at the summit.
Kick off at the Emirates is 3pm, with Arsenal looking to turn Wednesday's European point into three more valuable ones on home soil. Source: Just Arsenal.
