Arsenal hit back immediately as Danny Welbeck charges in down the left before an attempted clearance from an Everton man deflects off the forward, back on to the post and behind.

Image source, Reuters

Everton have beaten Arsenal just once in the last 17 meetings. They start well in their quest to improve on that record, forcing an early corner. It is fizzed in low for Seamus Coleman at the near post but his poked effort hits the side-netting.

Image source, Reuters

Game on.

Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger at Goodison Park for 5 live Sport

Image source, Empics

"Everton are dead in mid-table. If they had held on in so many games they would be on the cusp of Europe. It's those little things that make such a difference, especially in this weirdest of seasons. 

"But what can Roberto Martinez do? He just has to shrug his shoulders and get on with things."

It is Junior Fan Day at Everton today, meaning a small team of junior Toffees fans are shadowing some of the club's players and staff. So, there will be a mini kit-man, a mini Martinez, a mini Gerard Deulofeu and a small team of mini dancers to accompany the pre-match entertainment.

There is even going to be a mini match reporter in the press box to cover the game. I'm betting he does a better job than I do.

Now Arsenal's focus switches to Goodison Park and 12:45 GMT...

Pat Nevin
Former Everton winger at Goodison Park for 5 live Sport

"That Arsenal line-up slightly surprises me, but then they did play well against Barcelona. Arsene Wenger has given these players the opportunity to show that again, but one or two might be a little tired. 

"Everton will have to play with an intense tempo and with great crowd backing to win this today. But I think the Toffees can do it." 

The theme to Z Cars fills the air around Goodison and here come the teams.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez: "Arsenal, with the experience that they have, the know-how, the clarity and the way they play football - it doesn't matter what pressure is on them they will always play with a certain style and be very, very good in that style.

"I just feel Arsenal are still strong title contenders and that's what we're going to be facing at Goodison."

Image source, PA

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "At the moment, the only way to achieve something special is first to be realistic and humble enough to deal first with Everton...

"It's very tight, but I believe the Premier League is far from over. We are in a position where we hope for the best.

"I agree that a negative result would be very bad for us, but we focus on a positive result. We know now is the time for us to produce the result we want."

Trevor Sinclair
Former England winger on Football Focus

"Getting beaten at home by Watford in the FA Cup was a killer for Arsenal. A lot of the fans are really disheartened. 

"Look at the amount of chances the Gunners create - even in midweek against Barcelona. They just don't score enough goals. Will they ever invest in a world-class striker? Until they do they will never get rewards."

Image source, Reuters

Read Lawro's full predictions v BBC athletics commentator Steve Cram

Image source, Rex Features

Romelu Lukaku hasn't always punched his weight. But he is starting to. And when you consider that he is built like a wardrobe, these are worrying times for defenders.

By now, you will probably already have seen his first goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup - the one where he took four men to the cleaners before scoring. It not only filled his former side with regret, but fired his current one to Wembley and set a benchmark by which he will be judged from now on. 

He already has 25 goals this season and you wouldn't put it past him to score more today. That £28m price-tag looks an absolute snip.

Image source, Rex Features

Like a packet of Revels*, Everton have perfected the art of following up something sublime with something appalling. Consecutive 3-0 league wins at the start of February were followed by a home loss to West Brom. A victory at Villa by throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose to West Ham.

They've reserved some of their best stuff for the FA Cup (including the 2-0 quarter-final win over Chelsea last time out) - but boss Roberto Martinez knows that mid-table is not good enough for a side containing John Stones, Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku. And so do the fans.

*Other sweets are available.

Gareth Barry is suspended following his red card against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Muhamed Besic replaces him in the only change from that last-eight game.

Everton XI: Robles, Coleman, Baines, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Besic, McCarthy, Lennon, Cleverley, Barkley, Lukaku.

Subs: Howard, Stones, Kone, Niasse, Deulofeu, Osman, Galloway.

Image source, .

Arsenal make one change to the side that started the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie in Barcelona. Francis Coquelin comes in to midfield in place of Mathieu Flamini. This means 19-year-old Alex Iwobi keeps his place in attack, for a first Premier League start, while Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud remain on the bench.

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Monreal, Koscielny, Gabriel, Bellerin, Coquelin, Elneny, Iwobi, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck.

Subs: Macey, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Chambers, Campbell, Walcott, Giroud.

Image source, .

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator at Goodison Park

"Having gone out of two competitions in five days, there isn't time for Arsenal to feel sorry for themselves.

"While they surely know the gap to Leicester above them is too big, they won't want to be looking over their shoulders and facing any prospect of missing out on a top-four finish, something that has never happened to Arsene Wenger.

"The Gunners, though, have only taken 10 points from the last 27 - a similar return from their final nine games would certainly create anxiety.

"Everton's inconsistency, especially at home, has prevented a top-four challenge of their own in this campaign but, as Arsenal will be aware, they are capable of beating anyone on their day."