FIRST the good news for Everton, as they prepare to host an Arsenal side whose results this season have been the polar opposite of theirs. The Gunners have won three and drawn once. The Toffees have lost three and drawn once. Mikel Arteta’s men have scored eight. Sean Dyche’s men have conceded eight. Still, the good news, of which there is a surprising amount.

After starting their campaign looking moribund and immediately out of ideas, Everton were much improved at Bramall Lane a week last Saturday. They were competitive and vibrant in parts, ending a goalless streak that amounted to 317 minutes, then scoring another for good measure. An opening win still deserts them but there was sufficient evidence of fortitude and threat in the final third to believe they can take that into the weekend and see it all amplified by a boisterous Goodison crowd. So much of their upgrade derived from a really encouraging full debut from Beto, the club’s £25m summer purchase, and with Dominic Calvert-Lewin expected to be available again after a facial injury, Dyche is in the rare position of having a selection headache up front that he welcomes, not dreads. Add Youssef Chermiti into the mix and the Everton gaffer is almost spoilt for choice.

Go for BTTS this Sunday at 7/10

But it’s Beto who must surely be in the frame, the 25-year-old bullying a physical Sheffield United back-line, winning 12 duels and attempting 10 take-ons. The latter is the most from an Everton player for 20 months. As pertinently, his foraging afforded space for Arnaut Danjuma, another new recruit who has hit the ground running. Only five players in the top-flight have taken on more shots and the Dutch international’s energy and directness will be needed against an Arsenal side that is oddly more inclined to concede at home than on the road. The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their last 20 away games in the league. Danjuma’s importance also lies in Everton’s primary means of attack, the Merseysiders committing to the second highest number of crosses so far in 2023/24, and that brings us to the return of Dwight McNeil, a further plus. After shrugging off an ankle complaint, last season’s leading scorer for the Toffees will be hoping to resume his fine form that saw him accrue six goal involvements between March and May. Elsewhere James Tarkowski has made the most interceptions in the Premier League to date, and it may surprise to learn that Everton have had just two fewer shots on target to Arsenal. An optimist could construe that as chances going begging that sooner or later will go in.

Over 9.5 shots on target total is a shout at 27/25. Combine that with over 9.5 corners total for a 9/5 double. Arsenal’s 36 to date is a league high

Lastly, recent history offers up significant hope because despite having notably contrasting fortunes in the last few years Everton are unbeaten in five in this fixture, winning four of them by a single-goal margin. Of relevance, the last two victories ended a run of poor results, each time amounting to an eight-game winless stretch. Arsenal at Goodison have become Everton’s fillip. If all of this points to an unlikely home win then let’s just say it is not as unlikely as the odds suggest with 19/4 available, a price that entices. It will certainly be interesting if Everton score first as they are yet to lose after doing so under Dyche.

If 19/4 entices, 16/1 for Everton/Draw really tempts if you’re looking for a long-shot with substance. In their last three outings Arsenal have stepped it up a gear in the second period

Only then we acknowledge Arsenal’s imperious start to this term, with just a late concession to Fulham blemishing an otherwise emphatic response to their title charge disappointingly tailing off last spring. Declan Rice has instantly made himself at home, and his stewardship in midfield is especially key here with Thomas Partey injured. Gabriel Jesus meanwhile returns and that doesn’t bode well for the hosts who are no doubt sick of the sight of him. The Brazilian has scored eight goals in nine appearances against Everton. Moreover, Jesus slots back into a front three that last season scored six more goals between them than the Toffees managed in their entirety.

Jesus and Danjuma to both have over 0.5 shots on target offers up 7/5

Fourteen of that haul were converted by Bukayo Saka who already has three goal involvements at this early juncture, not to mention two Man of the Match merits. The brilliant winger has also created 14 chances and only Brighton’s Pascal Gross can top that. Then there’s Martin Odegaard, Arteta’s Norwegian puppeteer who has carved out a niche as an awayday goal-scoring specialist. Only Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have notched more on their travels since the start of 2022/23. Stating the obvious then, but there is an awful lot for Everton’s rearguard to contend with this Sunday, and it must be said they have hardly covered themselves in glory at the back in recent weeks. Yet call it gut instinct, call it early onset insanity, but Everton are fancied to kick on post the international break. And since 2019, at Goodison, the Gunners tend to struggle when that happens.