Premier League Saturday: Arsenal host Everton, Chelsea welcome Newcastle in battle for Europe
After a week dominated by European competition, the Premier League reclaims centre stage on Saturday with three fixtures carrying serious weight at both ends of the table.
Arsenal vs Everton (5:30 PM GMT, Emirates Stadium)
Arsenal sit top of the pile with 67 points from 30 matches and have won three consecutive league games heading into this one. The big worry for Mikel Arteta is the fitness of Martin Odegaard, who has been out since mid-February with a knee problem and remains a doubt. Leandro Trossard is also facing a late fitness test after missing the 1-1 Champions League draw with Bayer Leverkusen in midweek. Mikel Merino is definitely out, still recovering from foot surgery, though Ben White returned to the bench against Leverkusen.
Everton, sitting eighth with a solid defensive record, arrive at the Emirates in surprisingly good form. David Moyes' side have won their last two league matches and are unbeaten in six away games since December. Their 33 goals conceded in 29 matches is the third-best defensive record in the division. Jack Grealish is out for the season with a stress fracture, while captain Seamus Coleman is described as touch and go with a knock.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 27 of 28 home matches against Everton across all competitions, so history is firmly against the Toffees. But this is a different Everton side to the one that rolled over here in recent years.
Chelsea vs Newcastle (5:30 PM GMT, Stamford Bridge)
Both teams limp into this one after painful Champions League first legs. Chelsea were torn apart 5-2 by PSG on Wednesday, while Newcastle conceded a late penalty to draw 1-1 with Barcelona at St James' Park when they should have left with a lead.
In the league, Chelsea are fifth on 48 points and remain unbeaten in their last five home matches. Pedro Neto is suspended after his red card reaction against Arsenal, and Levi Colwill misses out with a knee injury.
Newcastle are 12th with 39 points but won their last league game, beating Manchester United 2-1 despite going down to ten men. Their problem this season has been on the road, where they have managed just three wins from 14 away matches. Bruno Guimaraes is out with a hamstring issue and is not expected back before Monday.
West Ham vs Manchester City (8:00 PM GMT, London Stadium)
The late kickoff carries its own drama. Manchester City are second with 60 points, seven behind Arsenal, but their form has dipped badly. They were beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in the Champions League first leg and drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest last time out in the league after Forest fought back twice from a one-goal deficit. Erling Haaland has scored just four goals in his last 17 City appearances.
West Ham are 18th with 28 points and fighting for survival, but Nuno Espirito Santo's side have lost just one of their last five league games. Crysencio Summerville, who scored the winner against Fulham last time out, is injured. City have won their last seven meetings with West Ham and Pep Guardiola has never lost a Premier League match against them in 19 attempts.
The early games
Burnley host Bournemouth and Sunderland take on Brighton in the two 3:00 PM GMT kickoffs. Both matches have implications for the relegation and European qualification battles respectively.
