Arsene Wenger blamed Arsenal's inept performance against Aston Villa Saturday on fatigue. The Gunners will not have too much time for recuperation when they take on a dangerous Everton side in Wednesday's English Premier League game.
Arsenal have never looked devoid of ideas going forward, under Arsene Wenger, quite like they have in the last month or so. The lack of pace in attack with Theo Walcott missing in the lineups is telling, and Arsenal's best performance in an attacking sense in the past few games came against a Tottenham side who were playing only with ten men - not exactly what you want to see if you are trying to convince people that you are capable of challenging for the title.
Wenger came for much criticism amongst Arsenal fans at Villa Park, in the goalless draw on Saturday, with several chants of "you don't know what you are doing" constantly ringing out along with "we want our old Arsenal back."
While Arsenal's situation has not quite reached intense crisis mode, there is no doubting the fact the Gunners look like a pale shadow of the team that have produced so many expansive attacking side in the past.
The puzzling thing is the fact that this Arsenal side on paper looks quite strong going forward, with Mikel Arteta the pivot, and Jack Wilshere or Aaron Ramsey along with Santi Cazorla the playmakers.
There has to be more goal chances created with these players in the starting XI; unfortunately against Villa, Olivier Giroud was starved for service, frequently having to come into midfield just to get a touch of the ball, and it was he who created a couple of openings for Arsenal with his deft touches and clever layoffs.
Giroud has been one of the positives for Arsenal, who lie sixth, one point behind Everton, in the past few weeks, with the French international growing in stature with each game. Cazorla, while being brilliant against Spurs, was just not good enough against Villa, neither was Ramsey nor Arteta.
Cazorla and Arteta have started every single Premier League and Champions League game for Arsenal this season - maybe it's time for Wenger to give both or at least one of them a much-needed rest against Everton, and play Oxlade-Chamberlain down the middle, where he is clearly better, with Gervinho, or Walcott, if fit, on the wings.
Arteta, however, is unlikely to be rested against his former side, where he spent six happy years. The 30-year-old will no doubt get a rousing reception from the home crowd at Goodison Park.
A freshening up of the lineup is essential - even giving Andre Arshavin a go from the start, playing behind the striker might not be a bad idea - either at Everton or against Swansea City on Saturday. With games coming thick and fast, Wenger needs to find the right blend between tiring out a player completely and with it sapping the creativity out of him, and giving him just the right kind of rest and with it keeping him in the right frame of mind during games.
If all goes as planned, Walcott is expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the last two games through a shoulder injury, while Tomas Rosicky is close to making a comeback. Abou Diaby, however, is ruled out for another three weeks.
For Everton, David Moyes will welcome back Marouane Fellaini from suspension after the influential midfielder missed the 1-1 draw with Norwich through suspension. Kevin Mirallas could also make a return, while Darron Gibson might find a place on the bench. Phil Neville, however, has been ruled out long-term after undergoing knee surgery.
Everton are strong at home, unbeaten in their last ten matches, while Arsenal's recent away form has been underwhelming, to say the least. The time to step up and be counted for some of the Arsenal players has come, beginning with Wednesday's game against Everton.
Expected lineups: Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Heitinga, Jagielka, Baines; Osman, Hitslsperger; Naismith, Fellaini, Pienaar; Jelavic.
Arsenal: Szczesny; Gibbs, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Sagna; Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Walcott, Podolski, Giroud.
Prediction: 2-2
