Simon Brotherton
MOTD commentator at Upton Park

 "Arsenal have the chance to go top with a win, which would round off a memorable week in style after getting their Champions League campaign back on track against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

"I was at Goodison Park last week and, while Manchester United were excellent in their 3-0 win, I also thought Everton were surprisingly poor.

"The Toffees will need to sharpen up as they look to win at Arsenal for the first time in 22 visits, a run stretching back almost 20 years.

"Everton are unbeaten away this season, but Arsene Wenger's side have won five of the last six in all competitions, scoring 17 goals in the process."

Who gets the edge here? Could Arsenal switch Alexis Sanchez onto the right flank to get at the relatively inexperienced Brendon Galloway? Gerard Deulofeu - who scored for the Toffees here two seasons ago - will have to much in defensively from his wide berth you'd think on a day where you'd expect Arsenal to probe consistently.

Players are in the tunnel. A reminder of our team news if you're just joining us, Theo Walcott on the bench, Olivier Giroud in.

Image source, .

Image source, .

"People ask me how I’d like to be remembered. I’ve had a good life and a fine career, both as a player and a manager.

"It would have been nice to have been able to have saved the best to last, like Bob Paisley and Alex Ferguson were able to do at their clubs, but that wasn’t to be.

"Yet I’ve had far more highs than I have had lows and possess some wonderful memories from my life in football.

"My wish is simple. I’d like to be remembered as someone who as a player and manager brought enjoyment to supporters.

"That’s all."

Image source, Getty Images

Some words printed in the Liverpool Echo taken from the book, external of their former columnist, Everton's most successful manager, the late Howard Kendall.

Kendall, who passed away last weekend, will be laid to rest on Thursday.

The pitch at the Emirates - being soaked by rain - is void of players, final words of advice go into the ears of every player, what would Everton fans give to have the man in our next post delivering a team talk...

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal can of course go top of the Premier League tonight. They can't win it can they?

No title win since 2004 but Jermaine Jenas thinks the wait could soon be over.

“I fancy Arsenal to go a long way this year," said Jenas on BBC Radio 5 live. "I honestly believe they could win it and it’s wide open. They’ve never had a better chance.”

Image source, Arsenal

There's some big news in the Arsenal line-up as Gabriel is recalled at centre-back but more noteworthy - Theo Walcott is benched for Olivier Giroud.

Everton bring in Gerard Deulofeu for Steven Naismith in their only change from a 3-0 home defeat last time out.

Everton are yet to win back-to-back games this season in the league and they were stuffed by Manchester United last time out.

Sitting mid-table isn't therefore perhaps too bad of a return and there are reasons for hope.

They've leaked just two goals on the road and have three clean sheets on their travels. To put it in perspective, they only had two shut outs away from home in all of last season. There's some steel there for sure, but can they show it more regularly?

Team news next...

And building on that big win looks a real possibility, as the Gunners welcome an opponent they typically wallop in London...

George Michael's wonderful 'Jesus to a child' hit may not live long in the memory but kudos to anyone who can even remember anything about an Everton win at Arsenal.

January 1996, when George was banging out the hits, saw Andrei Kanchelskis net for the Toffees as they left Highbury with a 2-1 win.

The blues have had 21 attempts to repeat the feat since, losing 17, drawing four.

More George trivia? OK. He had another number one with 'Fast Love' that year but hasn't topped the charts since.

'When will Arsene Wenger sign a holding midfielder?'

'We need a top-class striker?'

'We never replaced Sol Campbell.'

The consistent, somewhat cliched criticisms of Arsenal looked thin and empty on Tuesday as the Gunners ended Bayern Munich's eight-game winning run.

It felt like a win of magnitude, no side has scored two against the Germans since Barcelona in May.

Kick on from here? Is this Arsenal's time? Or will inconsistency blight a league push and bring those tried and tested lines on radio phone-ins back into focus.