Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes hang in the balance on the final day of the season as they host Everton this weekend, live on talkSPORT.
The Gunners have to beat the Toffees and hope that West Ham take points off Manchester City to stand any chance of becoming champions.
Mikel Arteta’s men have won five consecutive league games to put some serious pressure on City, but after the Citizens beat Tottenham 2-0, the title is not in Arsenal’s hands.
All they can do is win their game and hope for some good news from Manchester.
Meanwhile, Everton have nothing to play for on the final day having avoided relegation and will head to the Emirates with little pressure.
Arsenal vs Everton: Final-day showdown
Well, this is it. After 37 Premier League games, the title will be decided on the last day.
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Arsenal have racked up a club-record number of wins, sealing three points 27 times, which is more than the Invincibles, but it might not be enough.
They are facing a machine in City that has a manager in Pep Guardiola, who drives his players on to trophy after trophy, never losing that hunger.
Of course, West Ham are a decent side, and they will want to send David Moyes off in the best possible way.
However, City are unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League games against the Hammers, who have won just once and lost 15 of their 17 Premier League away games at the Etihad so Arsenal will be praying on a miracle.
- Arsenal have lost just one of their last 27 Premier League home games against Everton (W22 D4), going down 1-0 in April 2021. They’ve beaten them three times on the final day of the season in this spell (4-3 in 2001-02, 3-1 in 2016-17 and 5-1 in 2021-22).
- Everton lost the reverse fixture against Arsenal 1-0, but haven’t been beaten in both Premier League meetings with the Gunners in a campaign since 2017-18.
- Arsenal go into the final day of the Premier League still in with a chance of winning the title, although they are relying on Manchester City’s result against West Ham. The last team, however, to win the top-flight title starting the final day off the top of the table was Arsenal in 1988-89, beating Liverpool at Anfield.
Arsenal vs Everton: Team news
The Gunners have an injury concern over Bukayo Saka, who was withdrawn during the 1-0 win over Manchester United when he slipped into the advertising hoardings after a tackle.
The England winger couldn’t continue and had to be taken off.
Jurrien Timber is now fully fit, but it remains to be seen if he plays any part after his ACL injury suffered on his Premier League debut last August.
Meanwhile, Sean Dyche has a few injury problems and will be without Nathan Patterson, Dele Alli and Vitalli Mykolenko.
Jack Harrison is also doubtful due to a hamstring issue.
- Arsenal have won their final Premier League game of the season more often than any other side (22, including the last 12 in a row), also having the best win rate in such matches in the competition (71%). Indeed, they’ve not lost their final game of the season since 2004-05 (1-2 vs Birmingham City), and not at home since 1992-93 (1-3 vs Tottenham).
- No side have lost their final game of the Premier League season more often than Everton (14). However, they beat Bournemouth 1-0 last season, and are looking to win their final game in consecutive campaigns for the first time since a run of five between 2007-08 and 2011-12.
- Everton are winless in their last 10 Premier League away games (D4 L6), failing to score more than once in any of these. It’s their longest run without an away win under the same manager since a run of 12 under Ronald Koeman between February and October 2017.
Arsenal vs Man United: What has been said?
Arsenal fan and broadcaster Piers Morgan has issued a rallying cry to West Ham ahead of their match against City.
Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: “I randomly bumped into David Moyes, who was heading into talkSPORT the other day. I bumped into him in a bar.
“I just got a sense that he wants to go out of West Ham with a bang. What better way can he go out than dismantling City in their own backyard and letting Arsenal win the league.
“Also, West Ham fans… what better way for you to say thank you to David Moyes but also for Declan Rice! The man who brought you European glory.
“The man who week-after-week held you up as a team and carried you on his shoulders. What better way to go out than win it for Moysey and win it for Declan [Rice].”
- Arsenal’s 86 points so far is already their third highest in a single Premier League campaign, after their title winning seasons of 2001-02 (87) and 2003-04 (90). Meanwhile, the Gunners’ 89 goals this term is their most in a top-flight campaign since 1963-64 (90).
- Arsenal have won all four of their final Premier League games of the season under Mikel Arteta, the joint-best 100% win rate in games played on the final day by a manager in the competition’s history, along with Chris Coleman.
- Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has scored five Premier League goals on MD38, the most of any player currently playing in the competition. The Brazilian also has more Premier League goals against Everton than he does against any other opponent (8).
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Everton’s top scorer in away Premier League games this season with four goals. He’s scored in his last two on the road, last netting in three in a row in November/December 2020.
Arsenal vs Everton: Date and how to follow
This Premier League game is set to take place on Sunday, May 18.
Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 4pm.
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage from north London, with Adrian Durham serving as your host.
Commentary will come from Sam Matterface and Arsenal fan Darren Bent.
talkSPORT.com will be right across the action with a dedicated live blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
News Summary:
- Arsenal vs Everton LIVE commentary: Gunners host Toffees on final day but Premier League title race out of their hands – kick-off time, team news and permutations
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