Moyes: Everton 'will do everything they can' to keep in-form Garner

David Moyes is keen to keep hold of James Garner, who he will be hoping impresses again when Everton take on Arsenal.

Garner, who joined Everton from Manchester United in 2022, has established himself as a key member of Moyes' team.

The 24-year-old has started all 18 of Everton's games in all competitions this season, with only James Tarkowski (1,620) playing more minutes than Garner (1,614) for the Toffees.

Garner, who has played in both full-back positions as well as in his preferred midfield role, has scored once and provided two assists, creating 18 chances – a tally bettered by only Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (23) and Jack Grealish (33) among his team-mates.

His performances have reportedly drawn interest from some of Everton's Premier League rivals, with Garner out of contract at the end of the season, although there is an option for that deal to be extended by a year.

Moyes, though, wants to keep Garner beyond his current contract.

"I wouldn't be letting [Garner] go and I think the Club will do everything they can to make sure that he stays," said Moyes.

"It's probably a bit of a difference and shows signs [of progression] because I'm not sure many clubs have been after many Everton players in the past but now they're maybe starting to take a bit of interest, which is a good sign.

"Hopefully he signs a new contract when the time comes but at the end of the season he's got an option [of an extra year extension] as well, so, obviously, we'll be on that, if we need to be."

Garner was taken off late on in Everton's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend, as Moyes aimed to protect him from suspension ahead of the Toffees facing Arsenal on Saturday.

Should Garner pick up a booking within Everton's next three games, he will be suspended for a match.

With Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye departing for the Africa Cup of Nations and Dewsbury-Hall having sustained an injury, Moyes was not willing to take an extra risk.

He said: "We got him out of there with 10 minutes to go and to try to protect him a wee bit for the next games, especially with the boys going away for AFCON."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Everton - Dwight McNeil

With Ndiaye absent, Moyes will likely have to choose between McNeil and Tyler Dibling to start on Everton's right flank against the Gunners.

Should McNeil play, it will mark his 100th Premier League appearance for Everton – he would be the fifth-youngest player (26 years and 28 days) to reach a century of games in the competition for two different clubs (also 134 for Burnley) after Emile Heskey (24 years and 349 days, Leicester City and Liverpool), Joe Cole (24 year and 354 days, West Ham and Chelsea), Frank Lampard (25 years and 236 days, West Ham and Chelsea) and Jermaine Jenas (25 years and 312 days, Newcastle United and Tottenham).

Arsenal - Leandro Trossard

Trossard has scored both of Arsenal’s away goals against Everton in the last two Premier League seasons. The last Gunners player to score in three consecutive visits to the Toffees was Ian Wright between August 1995 and September 1997.

The Belgian has been involved in nine goals in his last nine away Premier League appearances (six goals, three assists), scoring or assisting in each of his last four. The last Arsenal player to score or assist in five top-flight matches in a row was Bukayo Saka in the 2023-24 season.

MATCH PREDICTION: ARSENAL WIN

Everton are winless in their last five Premier League games against Arsenal (D2 L3), having won four of their five against them before this (L1).

Under Arsene Wenger (between October 1996 and May 2018), Arsenal won more Premier League away games against Everton than they did against any other side (11). However, since the Frenchman's departure, they have won just one of their seven visits to the Toffees (D2 L4).

Both Premier League meetings between these teams last season ended level. They last drew three in a row between November 2012 and December 2013, with former Toffees midfielder and current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta playing 90 minutes in all three of those games for the Gunners.

Victory for Arsenal will see them top of the table at Christmas for the third time in the last four seasons, having done so just twice in the first 30 Premier League campaigns. However, the Gunners have gone on to finish either second (2002-03, 2022-23, 2023-24) or third (2007-08) on each of those previous four occasions.

Everton have lost all five of their Premier League games against teams competing in the Champions League this season, accounting for 83% of their defeats this term (5/6), including both of their home losses (0-3 v Tottenham, 1-4 v Newcastle).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Everton - 19.0%

Draw - 20.6%

Arsenal - 60.4%