Arsenal will look to rediscover their conviction as they travel to David Moyes’ Everton in the Premier League.
The Gunners endured a near-calamity against bottom-of-the-table Wolves last weekend, requiring two own goals - including one in the dying seconds of stoppage time - to beat the league’s stragglers 2-1 at the Emirates.
Having lost to Aston Villa the game prior, Mikel Arteta’s side appear to be going through something of a blip and will be eager to get back to the firing form that has made them favourites for the title this season.
The pressure is on, however, with Manchester City leapfrogging them into top spot after beating West Ham earlier in the afternoon.
Follow all the action in The Independent’s live blog below:
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Everton vs Arsenal live
- Arsenal travel to Everton looking to regain top spot in Premier League | Kick-off at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports
- The Gunners need win to go into Christmas top of the tree after Man City's victory over West Ham
- Everton in impressive form with four wins in last six
- Mikel Arteta's first visit to former club's new stadium
KICK-OFF! Everton 0-0 Arsenal
20:00 , Will CastleOff we go!
'Giant tifo at the Hill Dickinson - but why?'
20:00 , Will CastleHere’s Richard Jolly at the Hill Dickinson Stadium:
“A first giant tifo at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, for reasons that elude me. Arsenal's chance to be the Christmas No 1, although when they have been of late, they haven't won the league. But still a big match for them. They haven't won in their last three away league games.”
The teams are out
19:59 , Will CastleJust moments away getting underway - don’t go anywhere!
Closing in on kick-off
19:53 , Will CastleWe’re just a few minutes away from kick-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Stay tuned for all the action!
Your move, Mikel
19:47 , Will CastleArsenal go into tonight’s clash playing chasers after Manchester City dispatched West Ham to leapfrog Arsenal into top spot in the Premier League.
Erling Haaland was in the goals again as City underlined their growing title credentials, doing all they could in their bid to go into Christmas top of the tree.
Here’s how things went down at the Etihad:
Erling Haaland’s brace helps Manchester City to convincing win against West Ham
Arsenal getting used to new surroundings
19:38 , Will Castle Have Arsenal got the bottle?
19:32 , Will CastleAfter such an imperious start to the season, signs of shakiness have begun to kick in for Arsenal.
They’ve gone through something of a blip. Before November, they’d only dropped points to Liverpool and Manchester City, their two obvious title rivals (at least at the time).
Since then, they’ve drawn to Sunderland, failed to capitalise on a man advantage in a draw at Chelsea, lost to Aston Villa and could have easily dropped points to Wolves last weekend if not for not one but two fortuitous own goals.
Of course, they’ve also won six times since then so Mikel Arteta is hardly in panic mode. But with Manchester City leapfrogging them into top spot earlier today, Arsenal need to rediscover that formidable form that made them clear title favourites at the beginning of the season.
They’ve been in a tense title race before - three times in the past three seasons in fact, all with no silverware at the end. Can they handle the pressure this time around?
Everton vs Arsenal: Head-to-head
19:17 , Will CastleThe Gunners failed to win either of their matches against Everton last season, despite finishing the season 26 points and 11 places ahead of them. Everton dug in for a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium last December, before the two sides played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park in April.
Everton are winless in their last five Premier League games against Arsenal, drawing two and losing three. However, they won four out of five against Arsenal before the current winless run and Everton should also take heart from the fact that Arsenal have conceded the first goal in five of their last seven Premier League away games, including in each of their last three in a row.
They last conceded first in more consecutive away games between September and December 2019, just before Mikel Arteta took charge.
Mikel Arteta's first visit to former club's new stadium
19:02 , Will CastleEverton is familiar territory for ex-Toffee Mikel Arteta, who spent six years at Goodison Park before moving to the Gunners as a player in 2011.
However, this will be his first visit to Everton’s new digs, the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Will it be more good memories on Merseyside?
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS!
18:47 , Will CastleEverton XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Iroegbunam; McNeil, Alcaraz, Grealish; Barry.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Your Toffees to face @Arsenal! 🔵#EVEARS pic.twitter.com/MabkNi6I6R
— Everton (@Everton) December 20, 2025
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 20, 2025
🛡️ Calafiori returns at left-back
🪄 Saka and Trossard out wide
🫡 Gyokeres leads the line
Bring the energy, Gunners ⚡️
🤝 Presented by @deel
Team news coming up shortly...
18:40 , Will CastleWe’re just a few minutes away from team news - here’s a reminder of what we know so far...
Everton will be without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall due to a hamstring injury but Jack Grealish is available. Everton have lost Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Arsenal continue to be without Gabriel Magalhaes, while Ben White is a new addition to their injury list. Kai Havertz remains out but is nearing a return. Riccardo Calafiori is available after serving his suspension.
WATCH: Thierry Henry reflects on career after lifetime achievement honour at SPOTY
18:32 , Will CastleMikel Arteta addresses Arsenal future
18:17 , Will CastleMikel Arteta says he can envisage life at Arsenal beyond his current 18-month deal but insists he must "earn the right" to get another contract extension.
Asked if he could stay beyond his 18-month contract, Arteta said: "Yes, but it is about today and a lot of things have to happen in the next few months, as well, to earn the right.
"I think the manager has to earn the right to be here tomorrow. That is how you react, how you talk here, how you go in the dressing room, the message that you send, how much the players follow you."
City just do, Arsenal think: Inside the psychology of the Premier League title race
18:02 , Will CastleDespite the scenes of celebration on the pitch, and the fact they were staying top of the league, the Arsenal dressing room had nowhere near the same feel of victory after the late 2–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. You might have thought the leaders had lost. Arteta told the media the performance was way below the standards required, but he had already said it in far stronger terms to the players.
You can understand the concern, and there is reason for Arsenal to be worried now. Their performances have abruptly dropped – quite badly – while Manchester City have returned to imperious form.
Guardiola might be playing a new way, but the 3–0 win over Crystal Palace had an old feel. It was City constantly keeping the opposition at bay, always looking just out of reach. Oliver Glasner’s team, of course, gave Guardiola problems, but that was always going to matter less when Erling Haaland simply takes his chances.
One ominous new development for everyone else is that Phil Foden is scoring alongside the Norwegian, as City have finally added more goals from other angles.
This is an excerpt from the free Monday edition of the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter. Members of Inside Football also get an extra bonus edition every Friday. Become a member here.
City just do, Arsenal think: Inside the psychology of the Premier League title race
Everton in fine form
17:47 , Will CastleFrom a team touted for relegation to one contending for Europe in the top half of the table, the David Moyes has truly rolled back the years on the blue side of Merseyside.
The Toffees have four league wins in their last six, including one over Manchester United at Old Trafford and are proving a handful for any opponent, despite their toothless striker options.
Instead, its their midfield creativity that has been their source of joy this season - but with Iliman Ndiaye at AFCON and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall injured, how will they fare this evening?
Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal injury updates on Gabriel, Ben White and Martin Zubimendi
17:32 , Will CastleGabriel is “not far” from returning to the Arsenal line-up, Mikel Arteta revealed yesterday, as the manager gave an update on the fitness of his squad ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Everton this weekend.
“He’s pushing hard, as he does,” Arteta said. “He’s doing [training] sessions, he’s not too far. We have to see how he progresses but we are quite positive.”
Ben White added his name to the injury list with a hamstring strain picked up during the Gunners’ dramatic 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend, and he is not expected to return until the new year.
Arteta also spoke about Kai Havertz, suggesting he could soon return to the side after a long period out with a knee injury, and explained that Martin Zubimendi missed training this week due to load management.
Read more:
Mikel Arteta gives Arsenal injury updates on Gabriel and White before Everton clash
Arsenal's near-calamity against Wolves
17:17 , Will CastleThe face on Rob Edwards said it all as he applauded the Wolves supporters at the Emirates. The Premier League’s bottom side were moments away from just a third point of the season, away at the leaders, only to be denied as a second own goal of the night consigned themselves to a ninth straight defeat.
It was all too close to comfort for Arsenal against the league’s stragglers last weekend. Relive the action through Jamie Braidwood’s report from the Emirates:
Wolves own goals can’t hide Arteta’s fury at Arsenal’s ‘horrible habits’
Predicted line-ups
17:04 , Will CastleEverton XI: Pickford; O’Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Garner, Iroegbunam; Dibling, Alcaraz, Grealish, Barry
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hincapie, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Arsenal team news
17:03 , Will CastleArsenal continue to be without Gabriel Magalhaes, while Ben White is a new addition to their injury list.
Kai Havertz remains out but is nearing a return.
Riccardo Calafiori is available after serving his suspension.
Everton team news
17:02 , Will CastleEverton will be without Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall due to a hamstring injury but Jack Grealish is available.
Everton have lost Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye to the Africa Cup of Nations.
When is Everton vs Arsenal?
17:01 , Will CastleThe Premier League match will kick off at 8pm on Saturday 20 December.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Premier League, with coverage following the previous game between Tottenham and Liverpool.
Everton vs Arsenal live
17:00 , Will CastleArsenal will look to rediscover their conviction as they travel to David Moyes’ Everton in the Premier League.
The Gunners endured a near-calamity against bottom-of-the-table Wolves last weekend, requiring two own goals - including one in the dying seconds of stoppage time - to beat the league’s stragglers 2-1 at the Emirates.
Having lost to Aston Villa the game prior, Mikel Arteta’s side appear to be going through something of a blip and will be eager to get back to the firing form that has made them favourites for the title this season.
The pressure is on, however, with Manchester City leapfrogging them into top spot after beating West Ham earlier in the afternoon.
Good afternoon
15:19 , Will CastleHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Arsenal’s trip to Everton in the Premier League.
We’ll have all the build-up, team news and minute-by-minute updates from the game, right here!
