Arsenal FC host Everton, knowing that a win would take them on top temporarily as leaders Manchester City travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United. The Gunners will be without the injured Aaron Ramsey as well as captain Mikel Arteta for the game, with defender Gabriel set to return.
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Ramsey injured himself in the clash against Bayern, with the Arsenal FC manager blaming himself for starting him at the weekend against Watford after Wales had done the same in the last midweek game against Andorra.
Wenger was quoted saying by ESPN FC:
“Maybe he was overloaded a little bit with games. Ideally I think neither him nor Bale should have played against Andorra, because they were qualified, but unfortunately I could not decide that.
“I was in a position after that where I thought I could rest him against Watford. In the end I didn’t do it and of course after, against Bayern, I had not much choice and we got punished.
“Ideally he should have had a breather at Watford. Realistically, the real breather he could have had was against Andorra.”
Arsenal also have midfielder Mikel Arteta out of the clash. He joins Jack Wilshere, David Ospina, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck on the treatment table.
Defender Gabriel is back in training though, and could play a role in the tie against the Merseyside outfit.
Arsenal FC take on Everton after they had been comfortably beaten by Manchester United at Goodison, and the Gunners must be wary of a response from the Merseysiders who have been in decent form this season.