Both Ronald Koeman and Arsene Wenger are under pressure heading into Sunday's Premier League clash between Everton and Arsenal, but for very different reasons.
The Toffees play host at Goodison Park as they look to end a dismal run that has resulted in just two wins from eight top-flight matches, while the Gunners arrive on Merseyside needing to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Watford.
Everton
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Heading into the season, Koeman would have been hoping to push his team towards the top six of the table given that the club spent in excess of £100m bringing in new players during the summer window.
However, the Toffees have fallen below expectations, suffering defeats in half of their league fixtures, which has left the club lingering two points above the relegation zone.
Koeman has a handful of number 10s at his disposal, particularly due to the arrivals of Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer, but a lack of firepower up front has been evident.
The team have mustered just five league goals this season, which has made the void left behind by now-Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku that much deeper.
In Europe, things are not much better given that the club are staring at an early Europa League exit due to Thursday night's 2-1 loss to Lyon at Goodison Park, which was marred by a mass brawl between players that spilled into the crowd.
One supporter has been banned from attending future Everton matches after he was caught on camera appearing to punch Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes while holding a child.
As expected, pressure is growing heavier on Koeman's shoulders, but the Dutchman has insisted that he retains the support of chairman Bill Kenwright and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
With Arsenal on the horizon, rumours about the 54-year-old's future are sure to swirl if Everton fail to get a result, although a win or draw over a team of the Gunners' calibre is arguably unexpected anyway.
Recent Premier League form: LLLWLD
Recent form (all competitions): WWDLDL
Arsenal
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Finding a season in recent years when Wenger has not been under pressure would be a hard task, but nowadays it seems that the Frenchman's position in football is judged game by game.
During the 2016-17 campaign, groups of Arsenal fans campaigned against the 67-year-old, with many desperate for him not to extend his stay at the North London club, which has already spanned two decades.
However, Wenger ended up putting pen to paper on a new deal and even though the season is still in its infancy, the Gunners are nine points off the pace in the title race, with Manchester City leading the way in unbeaten fashion.
Arsenal have not won the league title since the 2003-04 season, and they have not come close to doing so in recent years, with arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur eclipsing them for the first time in 22 years in the 2016-17 campaign.
Wenger's men could not even grab a Champions League spot, meaning that they had to settle for the Europa League, in which they are performing well having won all three of their group games so far.
In the league, September was a good month for Arsenal as they went on a four-game unbeaten run, but they were stopped in their tracks by Watford last weekend when they were undone by a late Tom Cleverley winner.
Facing an Everton team low on confidence could work in the Gunners' favour on Sunday, but it also brings with it extra pressure considering that they will be firm favourites at Goodison.
Arsenal have struggled on the road this season, recording three defeats and one draw, with Liverpool and Chelsea among their opponents during that spell.
Recent Premier League form: LWDWWL
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW
Team News
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Alexis Sanchez could be handed a starting spot at Goodison Park after missing last weekend's league game against Watford, as well as Thursday's Europa encounter.
Wenger's other big guns Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil will also be available, but Danny Welbeck is expected to miss out with a groin injury, which he picked up during the defeat at Vicarage Road.
Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey have been dealing with injury niggles, but both are back in training and could be considered for selection on Merseyside.
As for the hosts, Rooney was not used against Lyon as he watched the game with his sons from the stands, but he is likely to be welcomed back into the lineup for the visit of Arsenal.
Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka were also rested, but could return, with the latter replacing Ashley Williams to partner Michael Keane in the centre of defence.
James McCarthy has been on the sidelines with a knee injury, but could make the squad, while Oumar Niasse is also in contention due to his ineligibility to play in the Europa League.
However, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be given the role up front in a bid to improve Everton's goalscoring chances.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Baines, Jagielka, Keane, Holgate; Gueye, Davies; Lookman, Rooney, Sigurdsson; Calvert-Lewin
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Cech; Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny; Kolasinac, Xhaka, Ramsey, Bellerin; Sanchez, Lacazette, Ozil
Head To Head
Historically, Arsenal have the much better record in games against Everton having beaten the Toffees 94 times - more than any club has ever won over another in the English league.
More recently, though, the Merseyside outfit have won two of their last four top-flight clashes against the Gunners, the previous match at Goodison Park ending in a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
Wenger's record against the club is also positive having overseen 30 wins in all competitions as Arsenal boss, while his team have picked up victories in 11 visits to the Toffees.
These meetings can also be feisty given that there has been a sending-off in three of the last four league matches between the pair.
We say: Everton 1-2 Arsenal
There is no denying that Everton are desperate for a win and they have shown in recent history that they can get a result against the Gunners, but the circumstances are very different this time around. Confidence and morale are low around Goodison and the pressure from the terraces on Koeman and his men could pull attention away from Arsenal's players, allowing them some breathing space. Wenger's defence is susceptible to problems, so conceding would be no big surprise, but the North London outfit have enough pace and quality at the other end of the pitch to win the game.
Danielle Joynson
