Arsenal will welcome Watford once again in the span of three weeks, in hope of avenging their shameful FA Cup lose to Sanchez Flores’s men. Arsenal went into the international break after losing the tag of three winless games across all competitions and will be keen to keep tabs on the fellow title chasers with a win.
Meanwhile Watford have massed 37 points this season and is safe from any relegation, though they lost their last game, against Stoke City.
TEAM NEWS
Petr Cech missed last five games due to a calf injury and has recovered fully, but is not expected to start this game. The other absentees for Arsenal includes Santi Cazorla, Oxlade Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Tomas Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini.
Watford’s Sebastian Prodl and Valon Behrami are both doubts for this clash while Joel Ekstrand, Rene Gilmartin and Tommie Hoban remains side-lined.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Arsenal : David Ospina, Hector Bellerin, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Mohammad El Neny, Francis Coquelin, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck.
Watford : Heurelho Gomes, Allan Nyom, Craig Cathcart, Miguel Britos, Nathan Ake, Nordin Amrabat, Jose Manuel Juarado, Mario Suarez, Etienne Capoue, Troy Deeney, Odin Ighalo.
TOP FACTS
Arsenal and Watford had clashed 17 times in the league, with both sides winning eight times and drawing once.
The last six meetings between these sides ended in favour of Arsenal.
Arsenal’s last lose to Watford in a league came back in 1988.
KEY BATTLE
Welbeck V/s Gomes
Danny Welbeck has been in good touch since his return from injury, and has already scored three goals. Also, the ex-Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will be keen to not let the effervescent English forward get past him
Coquelin V/s Capoue
The two midfield generals will battle it out to provide fluency in the midfield, and will be a stellar contest between the duo, if not the game deciding battle.
PREDICTION
Watford will fail to emulate their heroics, as Arsenal will be adamant on replying Watford the hard way. A routine win for Arsenal.
Arsenal 2-0 Watford