Experiencing the true definition of a baptism of fire, Sean Dyche takes charge of Everton for the first time in Saturday lunchtime's Premier League showdown with leaders Arsenal.
Eighteen places and 35 points separate the two sides at opposite ends of the Premier League table, as the Gunners aim to extend their lead at the summit to eight points.
Match preview
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Apparently weighing up whether they wanted the high-pressing, fast-paced Marcelo Bielsa style of football or the tight-knit defence that Dyche would promise to bring, the powers-that-be at Everton opted for the latter to replace the doomed Frank Lampard after last week's 2-0 loss to West Ham United.
Jarrod Bowen put the final two nails in Lampard's coffin with a match-winning brace at the London Stadium, and Dyche undoubtedly inherits a poisoned chalice at Goodison Park, where disgruntled fans have been making their feelings clear for some time now.
Selling starboy Anthony Gordon and failing to bring in a single new face in the January transfer window has hardly helped matters either, as Dyche takes over with the Toffees sitting 19th in the rankings, but a shock win over Arsenal could see the hosts rise above the dotted line if results elsewhere go their way.
While Dyche has been handed a whole list of things to fix at Everton, first on the agenda will be trying to snap a four-game losing run in all competitions, and their winless streak now stands at 10 games since a 3-0 win over London opposition in Crystal Palace on October 22.
The Toffees' Premier League losing streak at Goodison Park also stands at four matches, but they have at least managed to find the back of the net in their last three home contests, and Arsenal fans have painful memories of the blue half of Merseyside from the past couple of years.
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Finally coming up against closest challengers Manchester City for the first time this season, Arsenal's magical start to the season would not extend to a rare win over the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium in last week's fourth-round FA Cup battle.
Despite some bright moments from the Gunners - whose charge was led by the effervescent Leandro Trossard - in the first half, Mikel Arteta could not mastermind a way through his former club's staunch defence, and a striker's finish from Nathan Ake sealed a 1-0 win for the hosts.
With only the Premier League and Europa League to focus on for the remainder of the campaign, some Gooners have welcomed their early cup eliminations as they endeavour to steer eight points clear of Man City - who do not play until Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur - at the summit.
The 50-point Gunners, who have a game in hand on Man City, are on course to match the Citizens' centurions of 2017-18 should they continue in the same vein, and they enter Saturday's game unbeaten in 13 top-flight matches, having earned a slice of revenge over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium two weeks ago following their Old Trafford defeat.
Six of Arsenal's last seven Premier League games away from home have also ended in victory, and Arteta's men ended the 2021-22 season with a 5-1 thumping of the Toffees in North London, but they have lost each of their last two against Everton at Goodison Park and may be fearing a classic new manager bounce here.
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Everton manager Dyche will definitely be without the services of Andros Townsend and Nathan Patterson for his first game in charge, while James Garner is still nursing a back problem too.
Michael Keane and Ben Godfrey are edging closer to returns from knee injuries but also remain out, and Dyche is facing a dilemma over whether to revert to his traditional 4-4-2 setup from his Burnley days, or go with a defence-heavy formation in the hopes of quelling the league leaders.
In any case, Dyche will welcome the chance to reunite with James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil, while the out-of-sorts Dominic Calvert-Lewin will shoulder the attacking burden for now.
Meanwhile, Arsenal announced on transfer deadline day that Mohamed Elneny would be out for a lengthy period - likely the rest of the season - after undergoing knee surgery, which triggered the Gunners' late pursuit of Jorginho to cover in the engine room.
Any debut for the ex-Chelsea man is sure to come from the bench here, and Arteta also remains without Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe, but Reiss Nelson has returned to training following a thigh injury.
Jorginho could be pressed into action early if Thomas Partey's rib injury prevents him from starting, with the Ghanaian midfielder coming off at half time against Man City, but scans have been reassuring and he should retain his place in the XI.
Everton possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Coady, Mykolenko; Iwobi, Gueye, Onana, McNeil; Gray, Calvert-Lewin
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah
We say: Everton 0-2 Arsenal
Even if Dyche can work some of his defensive magic in the space of a few days, it may only affect the margin of victory for Arsenal, who should end their Goodison Park hoodoo with minimal difficulty.
Facing yet another one of his former clubs, Arteta can expect a smoother ride on Merseyside, as Arsenal take advantage of Everton's multitude of problems to steer further clear at the summit.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
