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Arsenal logo
FA Cup | Quarter-Finals
Mar 8, 2014 at 12.45pm UK
 
Everton logo

4-1

Ozil (7'), Arteta (68' pen.), Giroud (83', 85')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Lukaku (32')

Preview: Arsenal vs. Everton

Sports Mole previews the FA Cup quarter-final between Arsenal and Everton as both teams attempt to end trophy droughts which stretch back eight and 19 years respectively.

An FA Cup victory in 2005 remains the last time that Arsenal lifted a major trophy.

Following damaging results in the Premier League and Champions League in recent weeks, the same competition provides the Gunners with their best chance this season to finally end their silverware drought.

They host Everton in the quarter-finals at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday hoping to complete a Merseyside double after knocking Liverpool out in the fifth round a fortnight ago.

Arsenal are the highest-placed remaining team in the FA Cup, but will have to do without Jack Wilshere this weekend after the midfielder sustained hairline fracture in his left foot in England's win over Denmark.

He has been ruled out for six weeks and, although Aaron Ramsey and January signing Kim Kallstrom are nearing returns, neither is expected to be fit to take Wilshere's midfield place against the Toffees.

Mathieu Flamini is thus in line for a recall, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson and Yaya Sanogo, who all started in the last round, may also come into the starting XI.

Laurent Koscielny should shake off a hamstring niggle to partner Per Mertesacker, who signed a new contract with Arsenal this week, at the heart of defence, with Thomas Vermaelen on standby to deputise.

Everton too last tasted silverware with an FA Cup success in 1995, but their manager Roberto Martinez guided his former club Wigan Athletic to a shock Wembley triumph over Manchester City last year.

He is likely to hand Romelu Lukaku his first start since January 28 after the Belgian made a goalscoring return from injury in the 1-0 win over West Ham United last Saturday to net his 10th of the season.

Young defender John Stones will again stand in for captain Phil Jagielka, whose hamstring strain will keep him out until next weekend. Lacina Traore, Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson are also sidelined.

Ross Barkley was an unused substitute with England this week, and the 20-year-old may have to be content with a place on the bench again as Leon Osman continues to keep him out of Toffees team.

Recent form

Arsenal: LWLWDL

Everton: WLWLWL

Possible starting lineups

Arsenal: Fabianksi; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Flamini; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Cazorla; Sanogo

Everton: Robles; Coleman, Stones, Distin, Baines; Barry, McCarthy; Mirallas, Osman, Pienaar; Lukaku

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Carlton Cole of West Ham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal of the game during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham and Southampton at Boleyn Ground on February 22, 2014
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