Paul Merson predicts Arsenal v Everton scoreline and if Gunners will win Premier League title
Paul Merson believes Arsenal will beat Everton on the final day of the Premier League season – but says Manchester City will still win the title.
The Toffees visit Emirates Stadium on 19 May with nothing to play for, while the Gunners could clinch the league crown if they win and City fail to beat West Ham United.
Merson feels Everton will not simply roll over, though he still expects Arsenal to claim victory.
The former Arsenal forward wrote for Sportskeeda (16 May): “Arsenal have done absolutely nothing wrong this season and have recovered really well after throwing the title away last season, but the sad reality is that they look likely to finish second again.
“They are a fantastic team with a very good manager at the helm in Mikel Arteta and my only worry will be if they can recover mentally after two draining title charges.
“It’s all about timing and Arsenal just have to live with the fact that they’ve become good at a time when Manchester City are virtually unbeatable over a 38-game season. That’s why I consider [Jurgen] Klopp’s achievement of winning the league title with Liverpool a monumental achievement.
“Everton will turn up and Sean Dyche will want his players to have a go, but I can’t see anything but an Arsenal win. Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Everton.”
Can Everton upset Arsenal at Emirates Stadium?
Everton have little motivation to lift themselves and grind out a result away from home against a motivated, title-chasing Arsenal side.
However, Arsenal’s motivation could also prove their Achilles heel, with the potential for the pressure to bring nerves with it and for nerves to result in mistakes that the Toffees could pounce on.
Dyche’s side are extremely organised – as are the Gunners – meaning this one could be a tight affair, just as in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park, where Arsenal nicked a narrow 1-0 victory courtesy of a second-half strike from Leandro Trossard.
That game was as close as the scoreline suggested, with Everton allowing Arsenal few clear scoring opportunities in a well-drilled performance.
Should they put in a similarly organised display and keep the game level for any significant length of time, it could have an adverse effect on their opponents and open the door for an upset that would end Everton’s difficult season on a high note.
In other Everton news, Gary Neville was baffled by Jamie Carragher after he picked out Jordan Pickford in his Premier League Team of the Season.
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