04 February 2023 , 06:00
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Premier League leaders Arsenal travel to Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon to meet an Everton side in turmoil.
While the Gunners have flourished during the 2022/23 campaign and emerged as unlikely title, the Toffees have faltered and are mired in a relegation battle for the second consecutive season.
Unsurprisingly, many have predicted that another painful afternoon could be in store for the hosts, who have already come unstuck at home six times in the league this season; the joint-worst record in the Premier League. Coincidentally, no team in the league this season have managed to accrue anywhere near the eight wins that Arsenal have clocked up on the road.
But the Gunners will be under no illusions over the perils that a trip to Goodison Park will pose with the shock 2-1 defeat they suffered back in December 2021 still fresh in their minds.
The Gunners were seemingly cruising courtesy of a first-half strike from Martin Odegaard before two goals in the final 10 minutes from Richarlison and Demerai Gray left the Londoners pointless.
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And the match - and the reaction to it - featured heavily in last year's Amazon documentary: All or Nothing: Arsenal. Aaron Ramsdale was the player who caught the eye after the late double whammy. The England goalkeeper was seething as he walked into the dressing room and wasted no time in telling his teammates what he thought about their performance courtesy of an X-rated tirade.
"That's f****** embarrassing!" Ramsdale shouted before launching his water bottle and towel across the floor. As the rest of Arsenal's players sat in a stunned silence, Ramsdale continued. "Every f****** game, so f****** naive," he remarks while taking his boots off and slamming them to the ground.
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Arsenal players, including Eddie Nketiah, were stunned after shipping two late goals against Everton back in December 2021 (Naomi Baker/Getty)Unfortunately, Ramsdale's rant proved true late in the season: Arsenal seemingly had a top-four finish in their grasp before defeat in the north London derby sparked a late implosion which enabled Tottenham to pip them to the final Champions League berth.
But there's nothing naive about Arsenal this year.
The Gunners have bounced back in style: already a return to the Champions League looks like a foregone conclusion, with fans already dreaming of a far bigger prize.
Arsenal last won the Premier League back in the 2003/04 campaign after going the entire season without defeat. While there will no repeat that of that this term, they have only dropped points on three occasions since August.
Aaron Ramsdale was furious after the match and launched an X-rated tirade at his teammates (Amazon)Despite early season scepticism, Arsenal have proved in recent weeks they are the real deal. There are further acid tests on the horizon, notably a double-header against Manchester City, who they have yet to face in the league this term, but the Gunners are the only realistic obstacle standing between Pep Guardiola's side and a fifth title in six years.
Before then, they will be eager to make amends on Merseyside.
Arsenal are no longer naive; they are the real deal. Arteta bemoaned his side's inability to kill Everton off last year, claiming the beleaguered Toffees were "there for the taking".
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It feels like Saturday could be a similar story; even with Sean Dyche now at the helm. Arsenal will be wary, but they are a different beast this year - and that doesn't bode well for the Toffees.