Arsenal return to the Premier League action looking to extend their winning streak to four now when they make a short trip to Vicarage Road to take on a relegation-threatened Watford in their matchday 28 encounter on Sunday evening with kickoff at 17:00.
Watford have had a difficult time this season and have spent the season battling the prospect of an immediate return to the Championship. They have only managed to claim five wins from their 26 matches this season while have won just one of their last 14 top-flight matches and currently sit in 19th on 19 points, two points above Norwich and three adrift of safety.
However, the Hornets managed to hold Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last weekend, demonstrating their defensive solidity under new boss Roy Hodgson. Barring the 4-1 home humbling at the hands of Crystal Palace, the experienced Hodgson has clearly been putting the hours in on the training ground to shore up his side’s leaky rearguard, but a lack of attacking threat is still bedevilling the relegation dog fighters.
They will therefore need to work on their attack and start putting wins on board if they are to salvage their doomed season.
Meanwhile Arsenal’s season started in the worst possible way, but the Gunners under the determined Mikel Arteta turned around their season and are now in the fight for a top-four finish. Arteta’s men are currently occupying sixth place in the standings, two points behind the fourth-placed Manchester United who have played three matches more than the Gunners.
The Gunners are solely focused on a Champions League finish, with the side having no other competitions to contend for the rest of the season and thus head into the match refreshed having being out of the action for about 10 days.
They are currently in a good form having lost none of their last four Premier League matches, recording a draws and three consecutive victories including the 2-1 late victory against fellow top-our prospects Wolves.
With Manchester United taking on Man City and West Ham facing Liverpool, the Gunners will see this a perfect opportunity to break into the top-four, and thus will enter the match all guns blazing for the three points.
Watford vs Arsenal head to head
Both sides have met in 16 encounters since 1999 with Arsenal claiming 12 victories while Watford have only managed three victories and there have been one draw.
- Arsenal 1-0 Watford 07/11/21
- Arsenal 3-2 Watford 26/07/20
- Watford 2-2 Arsenal 15/09/19
- Watford 0-1 Arsenal 15/04/19
- Arsenal 2-0 Watford 29/09/18
Home
- Man United 0-0 Watford
- Watford 1-4 Crystal Palace
- Aston Villa 0-1 Watford
- Watford 0-2 Brighton
- West Ham 1-0 Watford
Away
- Arsenal 2-1 Wolves
- Arsenal 2-1 Brentford
- Wolves 0-1 Arsenal
- Arsenal 0-0 Burnley
- Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool
Watford team news
Watford will be without Peter Etebo, Nicolas Nkoulou and Ismalia Sarr due to injuries while Kiko Femenia is a doubt.
Arsenal team news
Takehiro Tomiyasu is the only absentee for the Gunners with a calf injury.
Prediction and odds
- Arsenal win
- Both sides to score (no)
- Goals under 2.5