Arsenal finally have both left-backs available, but who will start tomorrow night?
Young left-back Kieran Gibbs has been a fixture in the side in recent games, impressive after his latest spell out of the side with injury.
But Arsenal fans will be keen to see the return of Brazilian Andre Santos, a transfer deadline day signing from Fenerbahce who wears the club’s number 11 shirt.
His shirt number is an indication of his attacking instincts, with the left-back improving after a tricky start, scoring in Arsenal’s famous 5-3 win against Chelsea.
He was on the bench against Newcastle United last Monday, but was not required, after successfully coming through a reserve game against West Brom days earlier.
Arsene Wenger now faces a tough decision, whether to throw him straight into the cauldron that will be an 8pm kick-off at Goodison Park.
Santos has of course had ample time to prepare for this fixture, after Arsenal’s last game, but the manager may decide to play Gibbs.
Both players were injured when the clubs met in November, with the manager having to shift his centre-backs around to cover the position.
The Gunners need to go all out for a win, to keep the pressure on Tottenham in third, and Santos’ attacking play may help with that. What Wenger has to drill into the Brazilian, is to stay aware of his defensive duties and not come unstuck against the Toffees.
It was an away trip against Blackburn Rovers that Santos was first thrown into the side, which turned out to be a disaster as the club were outgunned in a 4-3 win for the home side.
However Arsenal are in a better place right now, and it would be easier for Santos to transition into a winning side than the losing one they were at the beginning of September.
It may be though that Wenger decides to go with Gibbs, who has done well, despite being beaten by Hatem Ben Arfa for Newcastle’s opener last week, and chooses Saturday’s home match with Aston Villa, far more comfortable surroundings, to ease Santos back into the side, rather than the tough trip to Everton.
Either way, after the full-back difficulties Arsenal endured in January, where they had to play a variety of centre-backs in the positions, it will be a tough choice that Wenger will look forward to making.
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image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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