'Arsenal want to be in the same position at the end of the season', says Arteta

Mikel Arteta insisted Arsenal value their position at the top of the Premier League and urged his players to make sure they earn every point, starting against Everton.

Arsenal currently hold a seven-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, a cushion which could expand to 10 points if they win, as Guardiola's side play after the Gunners on Saturday.

After a minor wobble in February, Arsenal have won their last three Premier League games. They come into this match after booking their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals and snatching a vital draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16 first leg.

With a potential quadruple still on the table for Arsenal this season – they face City in the EFL Cup final on March 22 – Arteta also insisted his side were just taking each game as it comes.

"You just have to go and talk to the dressing room to find out how much we value the position we have right now and how much we want to be in the same position at the end of the season," he said.

"And that depends on us. We have to focus on what we have to do and maintain it until the end of the season.

"Every game that you win now is a massive step towards the objective. We're going to have to earn it [on Saturday]. And if we do earn it, we're going to be closer."

Everton, meanwhile, still have an outside chance of claiming a European place as they sit eighth in the table, just five points behind fifth-place Chelsea.

The Toffees have won their last two matches, but have a particularly strong record on the road, winning seven of their away games this term.

David Moyes has won just one of his 20 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D4 L15), but he believes they can cause the Gunners a problem.

"I don't think they will be fearing us because of the level they play at, but I hope that they will give us the respect which we deserve because we have been performing well enough," Moyes said.

"We have been trying to be tough to play against, and we have played some really good football this year, so I hope that they give us that respect."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arsenal – Declan Rice

Only Bruno Fernandes (92) and Dominik Szoboszlai (56) have created more chances than Declan Rice in the Premier League this season (55).

However, he is joint-seventh for assists (five), slightly underperforming his 5.9 expected assists (xA) figure in the top-flight.

Everton – Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford has conceded 498 goals in 353 Premier League appearances and could become the ninth goalkeeper to ship 500 in the competition.

If he does so in this game, only Paul Robinson (338) and Ben Foster (353) will have reached 500 in fewer matches, but he will be keen to avoid this unwanted record.

MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Everton (W4 D2), having lost four of their previous five against them (W1).

Everton, meanwhile, have won just one of their last 29 away league games against Arsenal (D5 L23), picking up a 1-0 win in April 2021.

Only Arsenal (nine) have won more Premier League away games this season than Everton (seven). The Toffees have won four of their last five league games on the road (D1) and could win three in a row for the first time since December 2023 (a run of four).

Arsenal have lost just one of their last 15 league games (W10 D4), going down 3-2 against Manchester United in January.

The Gunners have overperformed their expected goals more than any other side in the Premier League this season (nine), netting 59 goals from an xG of 50.

However, at the other end, Everton have overperformed their expected goals against more than any other side this term (8.4), conceding just 33 goals from an xGA of 41.4.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Arsenal – 72.8%

Draw – 15.7%

Everton – 11.5%