Mikel Arteta eagerly anticipates a challenging match against a physically robust Everton side, with Arsenal historically encountering difficulties in securing victories on their visits to Everton’s home ground.

The last occasion the Gunners managed to defeat the Toffees at Goodison Park dates all the way back to October 2017, a situation that Arteta is determined to rectify without delay.

Arteta acknowledges the undeniable facts regarding their past performances, stating, “Our record speaks for itself: in the last six years, we haven’t won there, so we’re going to have to earn it, we’re going to have to be at our best. That’s something we haven’t managed to do, so we’ll have to start.”

Interestingly, Arteta’s record against Sean Dyche, the Everton manager, is less than favourable.

In Sunday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park, Arteta’s struggles against Dyche’s teams are likely to be showcased once more.

Since Arteta took over as the Gunners’ manager, Mikel Arteta has faced the 52-year-old manager seven times, securing victory on only two occasions.

Furthermore, Arteta’s teams have scored just twice in all of those fixtures until Arsenal managed to secure a 4-0 win in March 2023.

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It’s noteworthy that his teams had two goalless draws, and Dyche managed to defeat Arteta twice, once with Burnley and more recently with Everton in February 2023, with a score of 1-0.

Reflecting on this record against Dyche in February, Arteta candidly stated, “We have to improve,” while wearing a smile, indicating his awareness of this blemish on his managerial record.

Surprisingly, the only manager who has posed a greater challenge for Arteta is Pep Guardiola, as he has suffered defeat in eight of their ten encounters. Guardiola, his mentor and former colleague, remains a formidable adversary for Arteta.

Arsenal has made an impressive start to the season, securing three victories and one draw in the first four matches, currently occupying the 5th position with ten points.

In contrast, the Toffees find themselves in a precarious 18th place with just one point, having suffered three defeats in their opening four matches.