Everton preview / Anthony Stokes, goal machine

Right, Everton tonight and a chance for the first team fringe players and some of our younger than our usually young players to show what they're about. Last time we met Everton in the League Cup our boys spanked them 4-0, although that was at home with a full house behind them. I reckon Arsene will put out a more experienced side this time, but not too experienced, otherwise Everton might wet themselves and play 11 behind the ball all night at home. Hopefully when they see a younger Arsenal teamsheet they might actually be prepared to play football a bit.

I expect to see Senderos, Djourou, Clichy, the Flim Flam man, Denilson, Song, Walcott, Adebayor and Aliadiere amongst others, with Connolly, Traore and O'Ceurill on the bench. Allegedly (read: according to Arseblogger) we'll see young Fran Merida on the bench as well. The poor kid's already been dubbed "the next Cesc Fabregas" (which is a bit silly, Cesc's still only 19) but he's quality by all accounts and scored a stunning freekick against Spurs reserves.

There's a nice bit in the Telegraph about what top player Theo Walcott is going to be. I really do look forward to every opportunity I get to see him play, which makes it all the more annoying that tonight's match isn't on television anywhere in the world.

Speaking of televised football, I watched bits of Man Yoo going down 1-0 to Southend last night, through a lovely free kick from Freddy Eastwood. It's all the more funny because Man Yoo put out such a strong team, with Rooney and Ronaldo both starting. Southend keeper Darryl Flahavan pulled off some splendid saves to see the Championship strugglers home to a famous upset.

In the Scottish CIS cup, Falkirk went through against Celtic 5-4 on penalties, after our boy Anthony Stokes scored the equaliser in extra time. Stokes has now scored seven goals in his last three games and is getting a bit of a reputation as a goal machine. He's certainly earning rave reviews north of the border, winning the young player of the month Award for October.

I always felt a bit sorry for him last year in the reserves, because with Lupoli and Bendtner both starting up front he was often shifted out to the wing. Now we're getting a chance to see what he can do when he's playing in his preferred position. That's also three 18 year old goal machines that are all doing the business out on loan this season, which is great to see. The only problem is that conceivably only one or possibly two of them will make it at Arsenal, such is the high level of quality in the first team (although some would argue not in the goal scoring department at the moment). I have a feeling it's going to be Bendtner.

2-1 tonight. Come on you Reds.