Moyes won't let Toffees lie down for Arsenal

Much-maligned Everton will be cannon fodder at Highbury, so it does not really matter whether Arsenal lose against Manchester United at Old Trafford because they will see off David Moyes’ no-hopers anyway.

That is the theory being put about - the Barclaycard Premiership title is set for Highbury regardless of Wednesday’s summit meeting, because surely nobody can bank on Everton putting up any sort of resistance on the final day of the season.

It is the sentiment that will no doubt be buzzing around soccer, probably the Arsenal dressing room too, but words that will be like a dagger through the heart of new Everton chief Moyes.

The tough, confident Scot will recoil in horror at such an assumption about any side of his, says one of his former players at Preston, Colin Murdock.

The giant Northern Irishman, snapped up for just £100,000 (€160,000) from Manchester United’s reserves in 1997, admits he learned to fight and battle under Moyes at Deepdale, where there was no such thing as a lost cause.

‘‘He hates losing, at anything, he won’t like the idea from people that Everton will just roll over or be cannon fodder at Highbury,’’ Murdock said.

‘‘He worked hard with us on backs-to-the-wall defending, last-ditch stuff because he felt it was important to be able to do that, and I’m sure he’ll be impressing that on Everton.

‘‘He’ll hate the thought that people may think that his Everton will capitulate. The idea of being the underdog will inspire him and he’ll get that across to his team.’’

Everton seem to be the unimportant equation in the title race, the assumption is that Arsenal will get the points to win the crown on the last day, no bother.

If Arsenal draw at Old Trafford on Wednesday, they’ll be champions. If they lose to Sir Alex Ferguson’s wounded heroes, then it will mean the Gunners having still only needing a point against the Toffees. Dead easy!

But Murdock’s international team-mate David Healy himself a Moyes capture from United’s backwaters underlines the point about his former boss.

He said: ‘‘What really stood out for me about him is his will to win. He wants to win every game. It’s as simple as that.

‘‘The thought of being written off already will get to him, he won’t like it and won’t want his players thinking that way.’’

The omens, however, are not good for Everton. The last time Arsenal won the league back in 1998, Everton were mauled 4-0 in the Gunners’ last home game when they clinched the title.

But you can be sure that Moyes, whose determination shines through every word he says, will be aware of that little matter and won’t want it to happen again.

If Everton’s stars, no doubt already smelling the suntan oil, have any doubt about that they would do well to recall the words of Murdoch and Healy.