Arsenal's defensive core is severely compromised with Gabriel and Ben White sidelined by injury and Riccardo Calafiori's availability uncertain, which directly correlates with their recent trend of conceding the first goal in three consecutive away matches.

Everton's midfield is hollowed out by the simultaneous loss of Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye to AFCON duty alongside the injury to talisman Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, which will allow Arsenal’s rested elite midfield trio of Odegaard, Rice, and Zubimendi to dominate central zones and dictate the tempo.

While Arsenal have appeared lethargic in recent away fixtures, their superior bench depth—featuring the return of Gabriel Jesus and the clinical rotation of Leandro Trossard—is expected to provide the decisive late-game advantage against an Everton side lacking senior defensive reinforcements like Jarrad Branthwaite.