View: Dyche has a 74% Everton weapon he must unleash against Arsenal

James Tarkowski could single-handedly help Everton beat Arsenal on Saturday.

The Blues head to Emirates Stadium on 14 December in great spirits after The Friedkin Group received Premier League approval ahead of the proposed takeover [Alan Myers].

However, all the focus heading into the clash in North London has been on set-pieces – Arsenal have been prolific in this aspect this season, whereas Everton rediscovered their threat from dead-ball situations in the 4-0 win against Wolves.

It will be a battle through the air at the Emirates to determine the victor, and one the Toffees could win with one game plan in mind: send the ball towards Tarkowski.

Everton can win the battle through the air with James Tarkowski

Sean Dyche has the perfect recipe for success to wreak havoc on the Arsenal defence on Saturday afternoon.

Dwight McNeil has “perfect” deliveries from set-pieces, and Tarkowski, despite not finding the back of the net for Everton this season, is his side’s biggest threat inside the opposition penalty area.

As per The Opta Analyst [14 December], the centre-back is the first contact on delivery from free-kicks 25 per cent of the time, which is the second-highest among all Premier League sides, and the number increases to 34.5 per cent from corners – the highest percentage in the top flight.

With Jarrad Branthwaite, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Iliman Ndiaye lurking in the penalty area, Tarkowski’s role is simple: win the first header and flick the ball towards the danger zone for a teammate to convert.

The 31-year-old’s 30 touches in the opposition’s area is the second-highest among Premier League centre-backs, and his 74 per cent aerial success rate is the third-highest.

Furthermore, Everton have become reliant on set-pieces this year – 57.1 per cent of their goals scored have come from dead-ball situations, equating to the highest percentage in the division.

The nine goals scored this season translates to 31 per cent of their overall goals – the fourth highest – and the Blues have recorded 8.8 xG from set pieces, which is 33.7 per cent of their overall xG and the highest proportion of xG from set pieces in the Premier League.

Monaco exposed the blueprint to thwart Arsenal from set-pieces in the Champions League. Throw Tarkowski into the mix, and an upset could be on the cards at the Emirates.

In other Everton news, Alan Shearer predicts what will happen in the Blues clash against Arsenal.

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