John Bennett
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Goodison Park

Image source, Reuters

David Moyes has had a fantastic reception. This place needed a lift and it is certainty getting it

Moyes gives a wave to the fans straight away. He is waving to all four corners of Goodison Park - it is bringing back a lot of memories for the Everton fans.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter at Goodison Park

Goodison has found its voice again, there was a huge roar as the players came out onto the pitch with Z Cars ringing around.

And David Moyes is the last to emerge, taking in the acclaim by waving to all four sides of this famous stadium.

Only Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, of players likely to be in tonight's squads, has scored more than two north London derby goals.

Aaron Lennon
Former Tottenham winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Raheem Sterling has gone there and it has not really worked.

He doesn't look like the Raheem Sterling of old. I know what it's like to be playing in those positions - you need to be flying.

Arsenal are not opening teams up and that's when you need your winger to go past someone.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Arsenal assistant Steve Round who was part of Mikel Arteta's original coaching staff at the Emirates spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about Arteta's obsession with "preparation" ahead of the north London derby.

Round said: "Mikel Arteta is intense on the touchline but that's all about generating and projecting an energy to his team and trying to get them to perform at the highest level. Away from that he is very relaxed and I'm pretty sure he will be really calm leading up to the game against Tottenham.

"From the final whistle on Sunday against Manchester United to the kick-off against Spurs, it will all be about preparation - he is obsessed with that preparation to ensure his team are in the best possible shape to be in to win the game.

"It's attention to detail, it's analysis, it's communication - he will be right on the ball for this one for sure."

Mikel Arteta has called for Arsenal supporters to create "the best atmosphere that the Emirates has seen" tonight.

The Gunners welcome their local rivals to Emirates Stadium on the back of consecutive home defeats which risk derailing their season - against Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final and an FA Cup third-round penalty shootout to Manchester United.

"There are a lot of things that happen which are very difficult to control and to understand," Arteta said. "But there are ones that are in our hands. Let's create the best atmosphere that the Emirates has seen. This is something that is in our hands. And if we want it, we will create it.

"The players and staff are the first ones to embrace that and hopefully the fans will follow us because it is crucial for Tottenham and the rest of the matches this season.

"I cannot describe how much it helps the narrative, and the energy across the club. We have experienced it before: a negative one and a positive one. And what was the outcome? So it is our choice."

Mike Scott: As a Spurs fan, I’ve got no real reason to be optimistic for this derby. But for some reason I think we have a decent chance. Solanke to score a brace. You heard it here first.

Former Everton forward Theo Walcott says the pressure Dominic Calvert-Lewin "puts on himself is at a different level" to what he has seen in his career and in order to find his form again the striker "just needs to relax more."

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Walcott said the England international puts so much pressure on himself because he feels that if he does not score then no one else will.

It is a mindset Walcott believes Calvert-Lewin has to change.

AK: That winger turned striker called Henry was pretty good... I'll have him back if he's fit to play.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "The most important thing is that the players feel comfortable and confident in their play. And that we try to be as competitive as possible.

"Clean sheets are always important but the most important thing is to win. We try to be competitive and win the match at all times and you often need a clean sheet to win.

"Sometimes we have injured and suspended players but we have to still try to be competitive and to win with every player in the squad."

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to TNT Sports: "We all love these games, especially playing at home we know what it means to us all - a beautiful occasion.

"This is the moment of the season you have an opportunity to take advantage and it depends on the performance.

"Take things as they come and make things out of it. I think the attitude and the way we played against Newcastle and Man Utd let's keep doing that and we will win a lot of games."

On Raheem Sterling: "He has scored a lot in his career.

"He looks really sharp, he is coming back from an injury and he is very motivated and he tried to play - he has a great opportunity today."

Arsenal have had a bad week and right now it looks like Tottenham have a better chance of winning a trophy this season than they do.

People are quite rightly pointing out that the Gunners are missing chances and, with Bukayo Saka out injured, they are just lacking that spark in attack.

Having said all that, maybe they will find it again here, because I think the way Spurs play will suit Arsenal.

By that, I mean Mikel Arteta's side can soak up pressure and counter-attack, and even without Saka or a recognised centre-forward, I think they will get chances in this game. It is whether they take them this time. I am backing them to stick a couple away.

Of course this derby is really important to Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham in their situation, but the expansive way they play means it is tall order to expect an unfamiliar defence and new goalkeeper to step up again.

I do see Spurs scoring, but they give up a lot of chances. Arsenal have to win this game to hang on in the title race, and I think they will.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said: “It’s difficult. It’s Everton with a new coach, and they are going to be – the crowd and the players – very motivated, excited, with Moyes, because he was a very successful coach there with them.

“But we have to try to focus on our match, our game plan, our idea to impose on the field, respecting them.

“Overall, maybe some tactical work they are going to change, but the players they are playing will be defending Everton.

“Of course, we respect their players, we respect their stadium, we respect a new coach with a new idea, and I respect as well the difficulty we are going to face.

Steve Round
Former Arsenal assistant coach speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

I think Mikel Arteta is aware of it because you have to be in tune to supporters and how they feel and what they think of their club moving forward but he will be totally focused on the job in hand and I don't think you can let the noise get in and influence your decisions.

He will know that he will need a striker, especially with the unfortunate news that Gabriel Jesus will be out for a significant period.

They will be scouring the world and I am sure they have been looking at lots of different players - it's just whether those players are affordable and gettable in this transfer window.

Image source, PA Media

Everton fan Les Roberts from The Blue Room speaking to The Football News Show: "One thing I am keen to see is how David Moyes will work with Kevin Thelwell, Director of Football. Moyes has got a good eye for a player.

"He does bring in quality players who fit the team and the dressing room, which we haven’t done particularly well over the past few years. The club definitely needs to recruit in January.

"We should have more money available, this team’s had no investment for years and with the PSR breaches off our back now, we move into the new stadium, that ups the revenue, we need some investment."

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Pewter, Fan writer

One player is on the immediate horizon for Palace, with 19-year-old winger Romain Esse the likely acquisition from Millwall. He will be a much-needed reinforcement in a position of need, even if that may come with added pressure to be the one that sparks life into an often one-dimensional attack.

Glasner had been hoping that any attacking incoming transfer would also be joined by a returning Matheus Franca from injury, perhaps a 'new signing' in the cliched football sense, if not factual. The young Brazilian has not featured in a Palace squad since Glasner's second game in charge back at the start of March 2023.

Repeated injuries have raised red flags about his future, and with no expectation he will be with the team until the spring, this is the next in a series of disappointing setbacks for the former Flamengo player.

Read the full column here.

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

The frustration is growing at Arsenal.

Trailing Newcastle 2-0 in their EFL Cup semi-final after the first leg and now knocked out of the FA Cup by 10-man Manchester United, it has been a forgettable week for the Gunners.

Tonight Mikel Arteta's men host north London rivals Tottenham in the Premier League, seven points off leaders Liverpool.

Arteta has now been in charge of Arsenal, a club he made more than 100 appearances for as a player, for five years and is the Premier League's third longest-serving manager.

He has helped them recover from mediocrity to consistent challengers at the top of the game but - with just the 2020 FA Cup to his name - is patience beginning to fade among some fans?

It has to be pointed out they are third in the league, still in the Champions League and in the semi-final of the League Cup - having been Manchester City's closest title challengers in recent years.

But, with questions again growing about Arsenal's inability to sign a prolific goalscorer and their, at times, functional style of play, Arsenal fans appear divided when it comes to whether Arteta can deliver success.

Read more here.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger

Sean Dyche and Julen Lopetegui losing their jobs maybe weren't great surprises, even if the former Everton manager had personally saved the club last season and Lopetegui scarcely had enough time to stamp his authority at West Ham.

It is all because of the fear that grips clubs when the owners, and indeed the fans, start looking down instead of up in the Premier League.

Like David Moyes, who was dismissed by West Ham only to be lured back by his old club to get them out of another fine mess, Dyche will soon be wanted again by clubs finding themselves in trouble.

I am not sure if there has been a recent manager who has been more harshly undervalued for his efforts.