Everton v Arsenal preview: Dyche takes charge of Toffees in tough opener
His arrival could be the boost the players need as they face the daunting prospect of welcoming league leaders Arsenal without a win in their last eight league matches (D2, L6) - their longest winless Premier League (PL) run since October 1994.
Dyche, known for being something of an authoritarian leader, is already stamping his mark with strict changes at the club. One of the more notable is ordering all of his squad to wear shin pads with match socks or trousers for training sessions at Finch Farm.
This would suggest there’s going to be a more physical edge to this Everton side, something that could cause Mikel Arteta’s polished men problems and potentially play a part in helping the Toffees record a third successive home win against the Gunners for the first time since 1978!
This Arsenal team are not the soft touch they may have been under previous regimes though, and continue to successfully navigate through hostile atmospheres. They’ve won each of their last three PL away games - which included victory in the North London Derby - and did so with a margin of 2+ goals in each. A repeat here would see them win four league away games in such a manner for the first time since 1953.
Their psychological strength could be tested here, however, because while the Gunners travel to Merseyside with a proud record of no PL defeat in 13 matches (W11, D2), they did lose 1-0 away to title rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend.
The mental implications of that defeat are still to be seen, but as Arsenal have failed to win the title on the last two occasions they were top after 19 PL fixtures, this could prove a pivotal fixture in the campaign.
Players to watch: Should he score here, Dominic Calvert-Lewin would have registered at least one goal under each of Everton’s previous seven permanent managers. Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard hasn’t been at his club for quite so long but he’s still having a massive impact, having netted in his last three PL away games and also scoring at this venue last season.
Hot stat: Dyche has lost just one of his previous five personal head-to-heads against Arsenal (W1, D3).
