Arsenal could be in the best preparation for a Premier League test so far this season, as they travel down the road to take on an unpredictable Watford side.
The Gunners come into the weekend with a memorable 3-0 victory over Manchester United in the front of their minds, and that impressive form continued over the international break.
Arsene Wenger’s men produced a collective 13 goals over the weeks fixtures, with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil continuing their excellent run of form.
The players international results will no doubt bring confidence to the changing room on Saturday afternoon, and they’ll need it against a troublesome Watford side.
Arsenal
Team News
Laurent Koscielny will have a test before Saturday’s game to discover whether he will be eligible to start, however the boss has an in-form Gabriel to step in again if need be.
Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini are definitely back in contention following a minor setback which left them out of the Manchester United game.
Meanwhile, long-term absentees Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky are progressing well, with Wenger confirming that Welbeck should be back for January.
Overview
Arsenal need to push on now and start to punish teams with their attacking flair. The United game was enough to prove some doubters wrong, but now they must continue in their progression to the top of the table. We’ve seen the likes of Manchester City and of course, Chelsea, slip up so far this season and we can’t afford to go into this game thinking it’ll be a walk in the park.
Expect our central defensive pairing to be on their toes, because Watford will take any scrappy chance they can get, especially at Arsenal’s biggest weakness, set pieces. The dynamic of the game will change at a team like Watford, but with the Gunners away record looking impressive, this is a game they surely have to add to the collection.
One To Watch: Hector Bellerin
With mid-week reports suggesting Mathieu Debuchy is fed up of sitting on the bench, Bellerin will have to keep up his form to ensure his place isn’t taken. The youngster is going to be busy though, with left-winger Almen Abdi opting to cut inside and have a go every now and then.
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Alexis, Walcott
Watford
Overview
With seven points from a possible 18 over the last six fixtures, it’s been a tricky season for the Hornets so far, with a variety of performances and results. They were lucky to pull away with a point at Bournemouth in their last game, but a welcome international break will give them some valuable time to regroup.
It will be a case of sitting back and letting the Gunners pile on top of them for the first 20 minutes, but if they can deal with the pressure it could turn out to be a close game. They’ve pulled off victories against the likes of Swansea and Newcastle, and have the firepower to do some damage however the majority of this fixture will lie on their defensive capabilities.
One To Watch: Odion Ighalo
The Hornets striker is topping the headlines by himself in recent weeks, having now been nominated for the Barclays September Player of the Month award. He currently sits behind Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero as the league’s top goalscorer, and will prove to be a slippery obstacle whilst playing alongside Troy Deeney. Ighalo loves to hug the defensive line and then break away as soon as the ball is played through, so he will probably target Mertesacker (if he plays) for the majority of the game.
Watford XI (4-2-3-1): Gomes, Nyom, Prodl, Cathcart, Ake, Capoue, Watson, Anya, Abdi, Deeney, Ighalo
Prediction: Watford 1 – 2 Arsenal
The Hornets will know exactly what to expect this weekend, an overwhelmingly confident Arsenal side who are able to produce a huge attacking presence. This will be a test for both teams though, and I can see Watford stealing a goal from the speed and talents of Ighalo and Deeney’s partnership. The Gunners will however have too much to cope with come Saturday afternoon, and they should be more than ready to take three points back to the Emirates.