Everton midfielder a doubt to face Arsenal following injury

Everton midfielder Andre Gomes has featured regularly for Sean Dyche’s side since his return to fitness in March, appearing in nine of their 11 matches in that period, but he may be unavailable for Arsenal on Sunday.

Gomes came off the bench for Everton against Sheffield United at the weekend, but just over 20 minutes later he was substituted back off with a head injury.

Dr. Rajpal Brar suggests that images of Gomes’ injury after the game show swelling and a cut that make him a major doubt for the final game.

The swelling could impair the player’s vision, and the risk of reopening the wound will be high.

If Gomes is unavailable, it will be a significant personal disappointment for the player. With his contract expiring in the summer, this might be his last chance to represent Everton.

In other Everton team news, Jack Harrison was ruled out for the remainder of the season ahead of the Sheffield United clash with a hamstring injury.

Dele Alli, Vitaliy Mykolenko, and Nathan Patterson all also remain unavailable through injuries, with none of them expected to return against Arsenal.

Harrison and Mykolenko are probably the biggest misses, having started 25 and 28 league games respectively this season.

TOPSHOT - Arsenal's English midfielder #07 Bukayo Saka (L) vies with Everton's Ukrainian defender #19 Vitaliy Mykolenko (R) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. 

TOPSHOT – Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (L) vies with Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko (R) during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England on September 17, 2023. 

Everton are in good form at the moment, winning four of their last five games and only conceding one goal.

Having said that, Sunday’s visitors kicked off that recent run after a 6-0 defeat to Chelsea, so it remains to be seen which version of their team turns up at the weekend.

From Arsenal’s point of view, a win is all that’s required. Manchester City can no longer win the title on goal difference, so the scoreline doesn’t matter.

If Arsenal pick up all three points against Everton, then they’ve done their part, and they can only hope West Ham pull off a shock result away to City too.