After a seemingly endless international break (and it already feels like I’ve written this 100 times this season) real football is back as Arsenal travel to Watford to try and cement their place in the top two.
The mighty Gunners go into the game on the back of a hugely impressive 3-0 over Manchester United and have scored 8 goals in their last 2 games leading us to believe we’re finally getting the season up and running.
Watford meanwhile have had an indifferent start to the season though with them being newly promoted to the PL I would think they’re fairly happy with their 12th place right now.
Vital Quotes:
Wenger – ‘We play against Watford, who have conceded only one goal at home and defend very well. They are a very difficult team to play against so we have to focus to get a positive result on Saturday.
Allan Nyom – ‘It’s going to be a good game. We will try to play well and win the game, even though they are a big team,’
‘In the Premier League, every game is hard. It’s normal that if you play against a top team it’s a little bit more hard, but we will try to play good and win the match.’
Watford Team News:
Lloyd Doyley (neck), Jose Manuel Jurado (hamstring) and Joel Ekstrand (knee) will all be missed through injury whilst Allan Nyom, Ikechi Anya and Valon Behrami could return to the side.
Player to watch: Odion Ighalo
The tall Watford striker has the ability to cause Arsenal all kinds of problems this weekend, with 5 goals in 9 games having only had 9 shots on target means if we give him a chance to get a shot on target he will more than likely score.
Arsenal kept a clean sheet against United but we have looked shaky on occasion this season. We will need to focus.
Arsenal Team News:
Laurent Koscielny will face a late fitness test whilst it’s unknown whether Wenger will risk Sanchez who is nursing a slight hip problem.
Other than that it’s just the usual suspects who are missing. It appears the international break has been kind for a change.
Player to watch: Mesut Ozil
With the red hot form of Sanchez you would expect him to be the one to watch, but as I’m unsure if he’ll play or not I’m going to say Ozil will be worth keeping an eye on.
Probably our best player this year he has been a joy to watch, the manager challenged him to score more goals after he grabbed one against United, lets see if he can do that this weekend.
Match Facts & Stats
Watford have only conceded one league goal at home so far this season.
Alexis Sanchez has scored 9 goals in his last 5 games.
Ighalo’s 5 goals this season have come without any other Watford player scoring between his 1st and 5th goals
Arsenal have won all previous 5 meetings against Watford
Match Prediction:
I think Arsenal will be too much for Watford and will come away with a healthy 2-0 win.
Walcott with both goals.
Next Fixtures:
Tuesday 20th October – Arsenal vs Bayern Munich – 19:45