Arsenal have moved into fifth place in the Premier League table with a 5-2 victory over 10-man Everton in this afternoon's clash at Goodison Park.
Everton went ahead through Wayne Rooney, but Arsenal were the better team for large periods with Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil getting on the scoresheet before Idrissa Gueye was sent off.
Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez all netted during the closing stages, although Everton and Oumar Niasse were gifted a late consolation after a mix-up between Monreal and Petr Cech.
Find out how all of the action unfolded on Merseyside courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Everton and Arsenal.
What a double header we have in store for you this season. Later this afternoon, it is Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool from Wembley Stadium but first of all, the battle of the London and Merseyside teams begins at Goodison Park with Everton and Arsenal both needing victories for this afternoon's encounter.
While Koeman has spoken about receiving the full backing of the board, the Dutchman will be aware that he cannot afford another defeat this afternoon. It could potentially lead to the end of his time at the club. As for Wenger, the Frenchman will not lose his job if the Gunners lost to Everton but a fourth setback of the season would likely mean their title challenge is already over. Manchester City currently sit 12 points clear of Arsenal with a vastly superior goal difference.
Anyway, with just 25 minutes to go until kickoff, let's take a look at the team news...
EVERTON XI: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Williams, Jagielka, Baines, Sigurdsson, Gueye, Vlasic, Rooney, Calvert-Lewin
EVERTON SUBSTITUTES: Robles, Mirallas, Martina, Niasse, Klaassen, Davies, Lookman
ARSENAL XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Xhaka, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Macey, Wilshere, Giroud, Walcott, Holding, Iwobi, Coquelin
First of all, let's take a look at Everton, with Koeman making six changes to the team which lost to Lyon in midweek. The most notable inclusion is that of Jonjoe Kenny, who will be making his first league start for the Toffees. The 20-year-old has made five outings in all competitions for Everton, but this is the first time that Koeman places full faith in the young Englishman.
Both Gylfi Sigurdsson and Wayne Rooney were missing in midweek, but the star pair return to the team after a rest. Phiol Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Idrissa Gueye also feature. The likes of Tom Davies and Davy Klaassen have to make do with a place on the bench as Koeman goes for what appears to be an extremely forward-thinking setup.
As for Arsenal, Wenger inevitably makes mass changes after fielding a second-string team against Red Star Belgrade in Serbia. The only player to keep his place in the team is goalkeeper Petr Cech. It means that the wait goes on for Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud to make a start in the Premier League this season.
Two of the players coming into the team are Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Ozil is in the news on a near daily basis - either being criticised for his work-rate or being linked with a move away from Arsenal - while Sanchez has not played since before the international break. Both players owe Wenger a performance today. Ozil hasn't contribute a goal or assist in 396 minutes of league football this season, while Sanchez has one assist in 275 minutes.
HEAD TO HEAD! Today's meeting represents the 209th time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive contest, with Arsenal claiming 103 wins in comparison to 60 victories for Everton. The Toffees have only won one of the last seven games against Arsenal but that came in the corresponding fixture last season, with Ashley Williams scoring the winner in a 2-1 triumph.
PREDICTION! Everton will need to force the tempo in this game. They cannot allow Arsenal to settle, and their fans won't allow that. However, while Arsenal have had their own struggles, we think the North Londoners' extra quality will help them to a 2-1 win. Maybe Giroud will get the winner after rejecting a switch to Everton in the summer?
It's time for the two teams to make their way out at Goodison Park. Z-Cars is playing out and the Everton supporters are naturally responding. They need a response from their side this afternoon.
A remainder of the team news...
EVERTON XI: Pickford, Kenny, Keane, Williams, Jagielka, Baines, Sigurdsson, Gueye, Vlasic, Rooney, Calvert-Lewin
ARSENAL XI: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Xhaka, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette
KICKOFF! Arsenal get us underway.
It looks like Rooney is playing much deeper this afternoon, alongside Gueye in midfield. Everton had an early chance to get the ball into the box from a free kick but it failed to beat the first man.
CHANCE! This is the Ozil and Sanchez of old. The pair link up to set up Ramsey but his shot towards the far bottom corner is tipped wide by Pickford. It should be 1-0. Encouraging signs from the playmakers, however.
Another let-off for Everton. Sanchez appears to be barged to the floor by Pickford on the byline but the Chilean only wins a corner. Arsenal have started very brightly.
A bit better from Everton, who provide Rooney with space to turn in a similar spot to where he scored that famous goal against Arsenal 15 years ago. However, his pass through to Vlasic is poor and Arsenal deal with the danger.
SHOT! Ozil and Sanchez are already running the show. The pair again link up to set up Lacazette, but the forward is never going to score from an acute angle.
There's very little atmosphere inside Goodison Park. Maybe it's the sign of the times under Koeman.
CHANCE! Yet another opportunity for Arsenal! Lacazette's spins Keane after collecting Ramsey's low cross but Pickford blocks from six yards out. Everton are all over the place.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Arsenal (Wayne Rooney)
Rooney has scored a screamer! Gueye dispossesses Xhaka and the ball falls to Rooney, who bides his time before curling a wonderful effort into the far corner from 20 yards.
Now Arsenal are all over the place at the back. Cech messes around with a back-pass and Calvert-Lewin nearly capitalises by scoring a second. The goalkeeper was very fortunate.
BOOKING! Williams picks up a booking for clattering into Sanchez on the edge of the area. No complaints from the defender.
SAVE! A double-save from Pickford, atoning for a fumble on the first! Sanchez's effort is dropped into the path of Ramsey, but the young Englishman reacts well to get his body in the way.
SHOT! Now Lacazette sees a shot deflected into the side-netting by Williams. This has been a breathless start.
Everton are playing like there are around 15 minutes left in this game. They are hanging on to their lead, but I'm not sure how. Arsenal have been the better team by a mile.
Half a chance for Everton to double their lead. Sigurdsson and Rooney combine on the right before Baines is found at the back post. The left wing-back's header is goalbound but Koscielny makes the block.
There's so much space in the middle of the park. Vlasic has just been able to run at least 40 yards before delivering a cross into the middle, but Mertesacker defends the situation well. This has been an excellent game.
CHANCE! Everton are starting to have the better of this fixture. Rooney is relishing the deeper role and a cross from the right finds the head of Calvert-Lewin, who flicks a header wide of the far post.
Arsenal respond by winning a corner on the left but the inswinging delivery is met by a punch by Pickford. A quick stat for you - if Everton can win this game, they will sit just two points behind Arsenal having played tougher fixtures. Surely that can't be deemed a terrible start.
We are half-an-hour through this game and although the chances have started to dry up, it has still been an enthralling game. Arsenal can still take encouragement from their start, despite being behind.
Williams is fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for a wild challenge on Lacazette, but the referee is more concerned with the reaction of Sanchez, who was demanding another caution. The Chilean has been told by both the official and Mertesacker to calm down.
BOOKING! Sanchez is involved again, with Gueye bringing down the playmaker around 40 yards from goal. Difficult to dispute that it wasn't a yellow card.
With less than 10 minutes to go until half time, Koeman will be placing more emphasis on maintaining Everton's slender lead but it might be more beneficial to keep attacking the visitors, who have looked equally shaky at the back.
Calvert-Lewin has just brought the ball down expertly from a Pickford clearance. The youngster is finding it tough against the likes of Mertesacker and Koscielny, but he is doing enough to keep the centre-backs alert.
GOAL! Everton 1-1 Arsenal (Nacho Monreal)
Arsenal are back on level terms thanks to Monreal - who nets his second goal of the month! Xhaka's long-range effort was well saved by Pickford but Monreal got ahead of Kenny to lash home the rebound. Arsenal deserve their equaliser.
Big few minutes coming up for Everton. That goal could take the wind out of their sails. They still look all over the place at the back.
CHANCE! This is Arsenal's 16th shot of the first half, and they should be ahead. Ozil flicks the ball through to Sanchez and he only has Pickford to beat but yet again, the goalkeeper gets his body in the way from close range.
There will be two minutes of added-on time.
HALF TIME: Everton 1-1 Arsenal
The half-time whistle goes at Goodison Park and Everton and Arsenal go into the break on level terms. It's been a terrific half of football with Rooney's long-range curler being cancelled out by Monreal's effort just before the break. There are surely more goals to come in this one.
Koeman has decided to make a change at the break. Tom Davies has replaced Williams.
KICKOFF! Everton get us back underway.
Everton have reverted to a back four but it has not prevented the home side from creating the first opportunity of the second period, with Keane heading over from a free kick.
The Everton fans are enraged when Baines is not given a free kick after a high boot from Koscielny. Strange decision from the referee. Arsenal are straight onto the attack and Sigurdsson needs to head clear at the back post.
Lacazette has gone down clutching his ankle after a coming together with Davies, but there was barely any contact. A few of the Arsenal players haven't needed any encouragement to go down this afternoon.
GOAL! Everton 1-2 Arsenal (Mesut Ozil)
Ozil has his first goal of the season. From a header as well. Sanchez holds onto the ball before crossing for the German, who runs across Jagielka before heading past Pickford from six yards. Excellent goal, but more poor defending from Everton.
CHANCE! Arsenal should be out of sight. Koscielny, of all people, storms down the right before pulling the ball back for Ramsey, who sends a first-time effort from 12 yards over the crossbar.
The travelling Arsenal fans are telling Koeman that he is getting sacked in the morning. It's a possibility, if this game remains as it is.
We have got a stoppage in play after an accidental collision between Calvert-Lewin and Monreal. It gives Koeman time to decide how he can change the course of this match. You'd fancy Arsenal to win this unless alterations are made.
We will have at least a couple of minutes of added-on time for this stoppage alone. Calvert-Lewin required extensive treatment and then had to change his shirt. We are back underway and Arsenal are straight back onto the offensive.
There's not much coming back from Everton. The introduction of Oumar Niasse is surely inevitable. Rooney has done nothing since being pushed into attack.
There's a lull in the action at Goodison Park and Arsenal are more than content to allow the tempo of this match to continue. Everton desperately need a change.
RED CARD! How stupid is this? Gueye goes jumping into a challenge in the centre of midfield and he only connects with Xhaka. Easy decision for the referee.
Koeman is yet to react to the dismissal, but he needs to. Everton look there for the taking with their main enforcer off the pitch.
GOAL! Everton 1-3 Arsenal (Alexandre Lacazette)
Game over. A mistake from Vlasic allows Arsenal to break and Ozil has the easy task of passing the ball across the box for Lacazette to thump home from eight yards.
There has been numerous substitutions over the past few minutes, the most notable being the introduction of Wilshere, who replaces Lacazette. Everton have thrown on Lookman and Niasse.
This game is over as a contest but Arsenal continue to plough forward. This feels like the end of Koeman's reign at Everton. Only time will tell if that turns out to be the case.
SUBSTITUTION! Off comes Ozil to a standing ovation from the club's supporters. The playmaker is replaced by Coquelin.
WOODWORK! For all the criticism that goes his way, Xhaka still has some left foot on him. The Swiss has just rattled the crossbar from 25 yards out.
BOOKING! Koscielny's yellow card for a foul on Niasse is greeted with ironic cheers from the home crowd.
Sanchez is relishing the chance to play in the number-nine position. He is running rings around an already-demoralised defence. The Chilean almost tees up Kolasinac, but the defender's header goes off target.
GOAL! Everton 1-4 Arsenal (Aaron Ramsey)
Arsenal have a fourth through Ramsey, who slots the ball inside the near post after collecting a through-ball from Wilshere.
There will be five minutes of added-on time. The Everton fans are not amused.
GOAL! Everton 2-4 Arsenal (Oumar Niasse)
A mix-up between Monreal and Cech leads to Niasse tackling Cech and walking the ball into the net. It's calamitious from Arsenal's point of view.
GOAL! Everton 2-5 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)
FULL TIME: Everton 2-5 Arsenal
The full-time whistle goes at Goodison Park after Sanchez dances past three Everton defender before drilling a low effort into the far corner of the net. He deserved that goal. Arsenal deserve their resounding victory.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope that you can stick around for the upcoming encounter between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
