Arsenal and the imperative to win.

Arsenal face a tough challenge ahead of their second-place match against Everton at 6:30 PM on April 5th, as they need to maintain their position in the league table while also preserving their squad for the Champions League.

At this point, the dream of winning the Premier League is no longer a goal for Arsenal; however, no one should expect Mikel Arteta's team to give up completely in the final stages of the season. The Gunners will have to exert themselves in the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid next week, but even so, they won't be able to give Everton a chance to mount a comeback.

Bukayo Saka's return gives Arsenal added strength in attack. (Image: TRIBUNA)

Since David Moyes took over earlier this year, the Scottish manager has been pulling Everton out of the mire, gradually moving them away from the relegation zone. The stumble against arch-rivals Liverpool in the Merseyside derby midweek was Everton's first defeat after a run of nine consecutive wins and draws in the Premier League, temporarily solidifying their hopes of staying in the Premier League and their determination to climb into the top half of the table.

Having to face the two strongest teams in the league in quick succession within just a few days certainly put considerable pressure on David Moyes and his team. Goodison Park is a huge advantage, where Everton have only lost 4 out of 15 matches since the start of the season.

The problem is that all four of these teams – Brighton, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa – are inferior to Arsenal, and Arsenal themselves have a strong away record (6 wins, 3 draws in their last 10 away games), so the chances of Everton suffering a fifth defeat at Goodison Park are extremely high.

On a day when many former Arsenal players like Emile Smith Rowe, Bernd Leno, Willian, and Alex Iwobi reunite with their old teammates, they will have to be especially wary of Bukayo Saka – a talented young player who could wreak havoc on the home side. Saka only returned to the pitch at the beginning of 2025, but after just a few minutes on the field, he scored against Fulham midweek.

The attacking trio of Saka, Merino, and Martinelli could promise a favorable result for the visitors. However, it's still possible that manager Mikel Arteta – a former Everton player – will rotate his squad in preparation for the European Cup match against Real Madrid – the only competition in which Arsenal still have a chance of winning a trophy this season.

Arteta's team is playing while also conserving energy for the European Cup, which will be an opportunity for Everton to turn things around and secure at least one point at home.

English Premier League fixtures for the night of April 5th:

Everton - Arsenal (6:30 PM); Crystal Palace - Brighton, Ipswich Town - Wolverhampton, West Ham - Bournemouth (9:00 PM); Aston Villa - Nottingham Forest (11:30 PM).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/arsenal-va-menh-lenh-phai-thang-196250404211328044.htm