Arsenal vs Watford
Date: 11/03/2018
K/O: 13:30 hours
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Arsenal host Watford at the Emirates on Sunday, which sees the Gunners with just a single Premier League win in their last five games, coming at the expense of Everton, 5-1.
All is not well at the Emirates, as Arsene Wenger has come under fire for the poor performance and team management. The Gunners sit 6th in the league table, 8 points off a Europa League berth, chasing Chelsea. However, the schedule looks kind as they enter a run of good fixtures.
Resurgent Watford has picked up 10 points in their last five games, losing to West Ham in Gameweek 27, 2-0. Back to back 1-0 victories have the Hornets on 36 points, 9th in the league table, with relegation no longer a concern. Under Javi Gracia, Watford’s fortunes around as captain, Troy Deeney has been the centerpiece of the attack. Last season, it was Deeney scoring the winner at the Emirates to give Watford a 2-1 victory over Arsenal.
Team News
Arsenal
The addition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the January transfer window, showed the attack potential the Gunners carried, as they score five goals in their victory over Everton, with Mkhitaryan recording 3 assists and Aubameyang grabbing his first goal. Since that game, it’s been red for Arsenal.
A double dose of Manchester City, first in the FA Cup, as the Gunners crashed out in a 0-3 loss, followed by a Gameweek 28 loss by the same score. The creativity and attack potential had been nullified, leaving Arsene Wenger in a precarious position, as chats, signs and calls for resignation started.
Defender Laurent Koscielny, “We are in a negative spiral. It’s a little hard to get out of it but I think we need to focus on the positive vibes…I think we have quality, it’s just about being able to play with freedom. We have a top team with great guys and we need to show this on the pitch,” as he said in a recent press conference.
Arsenal has the talent, but just two wins in 2018 have signaled its time for their leaders on the pitch to step up. It starts defensively, as the Gunners have conceded 10 goals in the last 5 games, as Peter Cech has singled himself out recently on Twitter, “If you want to win a game away of home in the best league in the world your GK can’t concede 2 goals like I did today…it’s simply not possible…The team fought back but the damage was done.”
The availability of Hector Bellerin could be questionable, as he’s battling a knee injury, which wouldn’t bode well for the backline and the attack potential he carries. Between Mesut Ozil and Mkhitaryan the midfield pair have combined for 16 chances created in the last four gameweeks, of which only three have constituted big chances.
Up front Aubameyang is second with three big chances taken, while record two goals from seven attempts, all coming from inside the box. Arsenal need start converting more of these chances, as Aubameyang is the key player against Watford. His pace and creativity should allow him to breach the Hornet’s defense that has posted two clean sheets in a row.
Watford
The recent run of form, led by captain, Troy Deeney, appears to have the Hornets safe from relegation, now on 36 points. Deeney has scored the winning goals in the last two games. Stefano Okaka’s contribution can’t be overlooked as the Italian seems to be in favor by Javi Gracia. At the 60-minute mark, the past two games, Gracia has introducing Okaka, shifting the formation to a 4-4-2, which has allowed Deeney to partner with Okaka up front and changing the dynamic of the game. Okaka posted the game winning assist in the 79’ minute when Deeney laced a shot into the upper right corner against Everton.
The injury to Gerard Deulofeu has seen Andre Carillo take up position, wide right but hasn’t contributed much offensively to the Watford attack. The return to fitness of Kiko Femenia (ill last week) two weeks appeared to be just what they needed as the defenseman played down the right side as a replacement for the injured Deulofeu, looking dangerous with some good crosses. Combining with the offensive minded Daryl Janmaat at right back could be what the Watford attack needs down the right side to penetrate a fragile Arsenal defense.
Defensively, the return of Femenia, Miguel Britos and goalkeeper, Heurelho Gomes, should allow Gracia many options at the back. Back to back clean sheets for Watford has their confidence high ahead of Arsenal. “We are really happy. They were two big wins and we are now looking forward to playing Arsenal,” said Janmaat. While Gomes has return, it’s Orestis Karnezis who will return between the posts this weekend, posting 2 clean sheets in the last 4 games, second best to just Hugo Lloris over that period. Karnezis hasn’t been that busy, just nine saves, as the defense has been salwart thanks to the play of Seb Prödl and Adrian Mariappa. Prödl looks to be back to the dominate centerback Hornet supporters have seen the past few season, while squad player, “Mapps” has been in excellent form recently.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: (4-2-3-1): Čech, Kolasinac, Koscienly, Mustafi, Chambers, Xhaka, Wilshere, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Özil, Aubameyang
Watford (4-2-3-1): Karezis, Holebas, Prödl, Mariappa, Janmaat, Capoue, Doucouré, Richarlison, Hughes, Femenia, Deeney
Predicted Score: Arsenal 2 Watford 1
While Watford has carried better form recently, the attacking potential of Arsenal will be too much. The game will be won in the midfield with the likes of Mkhitaryan and Özil using their creativity and passing to enable Ramsey and Aubameyang to penetrate the Hornets defense.
Written by Stephen Toumi.
