Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out three of Everton’s midfield options ahead of Arsenal’s visit this weekend, including James Rodriguez.

Everton's Brazilian midfielder Allan receives medical treatment during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Everton at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on December 16, 2020. (Photo by ALEX PANTLING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Everton’s Brazilian midfielder Allan receives medical treatment during the English Premier League football match between Leicester City and Everton at King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on December 16, 2020. (Photo by ALEX PANTLING / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Carlo Ancelotti told journalists at his pre-match press conference that Allan, James Rodriguez, and Fabian Delph will all miss out on the Arsenal game. That’s in addition to other absentees like Lucas Digne, who has already missed almost a month of action.

This will be Everton’s first game of the Premier League season without Allan or Rodriguez. They’ve started at least one of the two in every single match so far. But they have plenty of other options available.

Former Gunner Alex Iwobi is the most likely to take Rodriguez’s place, whilst they have Andre Gomes and Abdoulaye Doucoure in midfield. There’s also Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison to worry about in forward areas.

Even with Ancelotti’s absentees, Arsenal will have their work cut out for them trying to get a result at Goodison Park.

This is an Everton side coming off the back of consecutive wins over Leicester City and Chelsea, even if they were on a poor run before that. They’ll certainly be up for it regardless of the specific players available.