David Moyes is clear on where the loyalties of Everton supporters will be on Saturday. The Toffees are gearing up for an early kick-off against Arsenal, presenting the latter with an opportunity to narrow its points distance from Premier League frontrunners Liverpool.
Yet, with a substantial 12-point chasm separating the teams and only two months left in the season, Moyes senses that Arsenal’s focus may have shifted. Meanwhile, he’s channelled his efforts into delivering Everton fans the thrill of victory, aiming to bounce back from the slim loss they suffered at Anfield just days earlier.
At Finch Farm, Moyes expressed his thoughts: “I think Evertonians want their team to win every week and I think the league title is probably quite far away for Arsenal at the moment.”
There was an agreement between Everton and Liverpool regarding the scheduling of this fixture. Both sought to move the Merseyside derby to Tuesday, awarding Everton additional preparation time—a courtesy their neighbours would have welcomed amid its pre-international break slump.
The petition, however, fell on deaf ears, catapulting Everton into a tight sequence against the division’s leading pair. For Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta—who cut his teeth under Moyes’ tutelage during his initial stint at Everton—the significance of this clash has seemingly waned.
He’s grappling with a defensive injury crisis and now faces the dilemma of how to deploy star player Bukayo Saka after his midweek comeback from injury. With the title slipping further from reach, Moyes recognizes that Arsenal’s focus might shift towards their upcoming clash with Madrid.
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Moyes remarked: “I don’t know if Arsenal will have its mind more on the Champions League game on the Tuesday night. We’re talking about our turnaround with Arne Slot suggesting we have a disadvantage, it is a short turnaround for Arsenal to play on Saturday and Tuesday against Real Madrid.”
Everton’s unbeaten run under Moyes was ended by Liverpool on Wednesday night with Diogo Jota’s strike handing the Scot just his second loss since returning to Goodison Park.
Pundit Paul Merson is backing the Toffees to do their rivals a favor on Saturday. He said: “Arsenal is definitely out of the Premier League title race. Liverpool will now have to lose half its games, while Arsenal win all its remaining matches, for it to change and that is impossible! Mikel Arteta’s men also have the big game against Real Madrid coming up next week.”
