While Watford too have endured a loss as well as a draw in their opening two games in the league, they were shocked by Gillingham in the second round of the league cup on Tuesday. However, the mood at the club is not as dim as their London counterparts and they will be they looking forward to putting up a spirited performance against a dispirited Arsenal. Arsenal are clear favourites in this one at 19/25 to win whilst Watford are 23/5.
Team News
Watford
Manager Walter Mazzarri is expected to
ring a number of changes from the side which lost to Gillingham, with
club captain Troy Deeney and midfielder Adlène Guédioura being the only
players who are expected to retain their positions in the starting 11.
The Italian has so far used the 3-5-2 formation and is expected to go
into the game with the same formation, a move that could further stifle a
rather brittle Arsenal midfield and their attack.
Expected Line-Up
Gomes, Cathcart, Prodl, Britos, Amrabat, Behrami, Capoue, Holebas, Guedioura, Deeney, Ighalo
Arsenal
A side that has perennially been plagued
by injury concerns over the course of the last few seasons already has
its fair share of issues with the likes of Ramsey, Mertesacker, Iwobi
and Welbeck expected to miss the game as they recover from their
respective long term injuries.
However, in what can be termed good news
for the club, both Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud are expected to start
the game after coming on as substitutes in the game against Leicester.
Their addition to the line-up will add some much needed attacking
firepower to the side.
Expected Line-Up
Cech, Bellerin, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Cazorla, Walcott, Sanchez, Ozil, Giroud.
The side has recently acquired the
services of former Juventus man Roberto Pereyra and he is expected to
make his Watford bow in the game. A creative player, who would thrive
alongside the industrious strike partnership of Ighalo and Deeney,
Pereyra is being touted as the smartest signing made by the club over
the summer.
The 25 year old is a versatile
midfielder who can play on the left, right as well as the centre of the
pitch. His industry goes well with the current Watford side and he does
not shy from doing his fair share of defensive work. However, what does
set him apart from the rest of the players is his creativity. He can
make defence-splitting passes, is calm with his decision-making and is
effective on and off the ball.
While he might not start the game, he
could come on as an impact substitute and given his attributes, he could
prove to be a handful for the Arsenal defence. He has shown an ability
to change the course of a game on its head and would be critical to
Watford’s chances of success against the Gunners.
Granit Xhaka
The Swiss midfielder has endured a tough
start to life in England as he has been rendered ineffective by the
opposition in the games he has featured so far. While it might be
predicted to be an easier outing for the club than the previous 2, the 5
man midfield formation being deployed by Watford will put the
midfielder under an enormous test.
Still coming to terms with the pace and
physicality of English football, Xhaka has looked troubled in the middle
of the park as the opposition midfielders have been able to skip past
him like he was non-existent. Touted to be the engine of the side, he
will need to control the tempo of the game in order to help his side eke
out a positive result.
Given their style of play, it is granted
that he will not be afforded time and space on the ball and will come
under huge physical pressure from Watford. However, Arsene Wenger will
be hoping his recent recruit can shrug off the demons of the recent
performances and leave a stamp of his authority over the game.
Interesting Facts
- These two sides have met on 24 occasions in the past, with Arsenal winning on 13 occasions compared to Watford’s 10 wins .
– Watford are yet to beat Arsenal in the Premier League, having lost their last 6 games to the Gunners.
Watford - Arsenal prediction: 2 @ 1,70
