A quick glance at the Premier League table and you would expect Arsenal to be in more of an upbeat mood than Everton at this present moment in time.

However, scratch the surface even just a little bit and it becomes clear very quickly that ahead of their meeting at Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime, it is the hosting Toffees that have the more optimistic outlook out of the two clubs.

Everton

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It would be fair to say that Roberto Martinez currently divides opinion among the Everton faithful.

While his footballing philosophy is rightly admired and the squad that he has assembled is the best that Goodison Park has seen for some time, results are not reflecting those points on a consistent basis. The fact that they are closer to the relegation zone than the top four highlights just how poor a domestic campaign it has been for Martinez's men.

However, he may well have earned himself some extra time and patience thanks to last weekend's 2-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup, which booked the club a first semi-final berth since the defeat to rivals Liverpool in 2012.

The star of that victory was undoubtedly Romelu Lukaku, who saw his stock continue to rise as he scored both of Everton's goals. That took his tally for the season to 25 in all competitions, 18 of which have come in the Premier League - a club record return in one campaign with nine games still left to play.

Eyebrows were understandably raised when Everton forked out £28m to sign the centre-forward in 2014, but in the current market and taking his form into consideration, that fee now looks like a snip.

"We made a huge, huge investment in him because we knew the potential he had and what he was as a character and that is what is showing through now, that character developing and him becoming a real influential footballer on the pitch," Martinez recently said of the Belgium international.

Recent form: LWWLWL
Recent form (all competitions): WLWWLW

Arsenal

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In his press conference before the Gunners were inevitably knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona on Wednesday night, Arsene Wenger spoke about his side potentially pulling off the impossible.

Yet, what has been a major source of frustration for Arsenal fans is the team's failure over the last few seasons to fulfil the possible.

This term alone, for example: The Premier League is more than winnable, but it would seem that the North Londoners are going to fall short. Defending the FA Cup for a third year in a row seemed to be on, yet that is no longer possible after Watford's 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It all means that whether he likes it or not, Wenger is under the biggest pressure since he took charge of Arsenal way back in 1996.

Out of the FA Cup, out of the Champions League and 11 points adrift of league leaders Leicester City (albeit with a game in hand), there is a case to be made for suggesting that Arsenal's season is over.

One thing is for certain - failure to claim maximum points from their trip to Merseyside will end the argument. It may also force Wenger to strongly consider his position.

Recent form: DWWLLD
Recent form (all competitions): LLDWLL

Team News

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A player of undoubted potential, it seems that John Stones has lost his way a little of late.

It is a viewpoint that is seemingly shared by Martinez, who dropped the young defender for the clash with Chelsea last time out.

Ramiro Funes Mori impressed alongside Phil Jagielka in the heart of the defence, so there is a chance that Stones will be warming the bench once again.

Aside from that, Gareth Barry and Kevin Mirallas are both suspended, but left-back Bryan Oviedo could come back into contention following his recovery from a chest infection.

The Arsenal side is a lot more difficult to predict, with Wenger having left out the likes of Per Mertesacker, Francis Coquelin, Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud for the game in Spain.

Potentially all five of those players could come into the starting lineup at Goodison Park.

However, goalkeeper Petr Cech will play no part because of a calf complaint, which means that David Ospina will continue to deputise between the posts.

Everton possible starting lineup:
Robles; Coleman, Funes Mori, Jagielka, Baines; Cleverley, Besic, Lennon, McCarthy, Barkley; Lukaku

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ospina; Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Elneny, Coquelin; Campbell, Ozil, Sanchez; Giroud

Head To Head

This is a fixture that has undeniably been dominated by Arsenal in recent years.

Indeed, since March 2007, Everton have come out on top just once in 18 matches between the pair.

When they faced off earlier in the season, goals from Giroud and Laurent Koscielny earned the capital-based side a 2-1 win.

We say: Everton 2-1 Arsenal

Only a victory will do for the Gunners, but they have done little in recent weeks to suggest that they are playing well enough to get one. Everton, on the other hand, are bound to be full of confidence after booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals and that could be enough for them to claim the three points.

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