Arsenal take on Manchester City in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday evening.
The Gunners currently lead the Premier League table, sitting five points clear of second-placed City, who have played an extra match this term. After their clash at the Etihad Stadium, Mikel Arteta's side return to league action next weekend when they travel to Goodison Park to take on relegation-threatened Everton.
The Toffees decided to sack manager Frank Lampard earlier this week following a horrid run of form that sees them 19th in the current standings. Former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa had been mooted as a potential target, although it is ex-Burnley head coach Sean Dyche that seems the most likely candidate to take charge of the Merseyside club.
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According to Sky Sports, Dyche is expected to be appointed today and his first game will then, of course, be against Arsenal on Saturday week, hoping he can hand the north Londoners their first league defeat since September, when Manchester United recorded a 3-1 victory. However, his record against the Gunners has been poor over the years, winning just one of his 15 meetings, a 1-0 triumph back in December 2020.
Arteta was Arsenal manager that day and the Spaniard has made it no secret of his admiration for Dyche in the past. “I only have words of praise because what he’s done at the club over the last ten years is phenomenal", he said when Dyche was sacked by Burnley last season.
“He gave the club a really clear identity, he’s managed to keep the team, with one of the smallest budgets, consistently in the league. I wish him the best of luck and as always with colleagues, it’s sad when you see those decisions.”
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