Match Preview: Watford vs. Arsenal
With two completed transfers just around the corner and Arsenal’s Euro stars returning to full fitness, Saturday’s game against Watford looks like the final one before the squad is fully set for this season, but that doesn’t mean this one isn’t important.
Arsenal won both games against then-newly-promoted Watford in the Premier League last season. Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey got on the scoresheet away from the Emirates in a 3-0 win on 17 October, and Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin, Theo Walcott and Alexis led the Gunners to a 4-0 win at home on 2 April. In the FA Cup quarterfinals on 13 March, however, a late Danny Welbeck goal was not enough to overcome a 2-0 deficit to knock out Arsenal.
Both teams are looking for their first win of the season. Arsenal lost its opening match 4-3 to Liverpool then drew with defending champions Leicester City 0-0 last Saturday. Watford and Southampton played to a 1-1 stalemate on opening day then suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea a week later. The Hornets then got knocked out of the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday in a surprise upset, losing in extra time to League One opponents Gillingham. Watford had named a lineup with striker and captain Troy Deeney the only first-team player in it. Fun fact: former Arsenal forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas came off the bench for Gillingham.
So both teams are seeking their first competitive win of the 2016-2017 season as the Gunners visit Vicarage Road on Saturday. Here are the keys to the match for Arsenal.
Smoothly re-integrate the Euro stars that have been missing. Laurent Koscielny put in a man of the match performance last week and Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud’s sub appearances reminded us what they’re capable of, even though it was ultimately fruitless. Whether they start or come off the bench, how manager Arsene Wenger and the other Arsenal players work with them will be key not just to this game but to the rest of the season.
Players fighting for places must show up big-time. With Ozil and Giroud returning and reported new signing Lucas Perez joining the ranks, players like Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have a big task to convince Wenger that they still belong in the side. This match will likely be their last opportunity to stake a claim. It seems that only the right-wing spot is open for now, with Walcott and the Ox and maybe Perez, who has experience on the wings, fighting for it.
Get Bellerin and Monreal more involved in the attack with crosses. The most noticeable hesitation last Saturday was Nacho Monreal wanting to cross the ball into the box, something he’s pretty good at, but having no target to aim for. Giving the Spaniards more impetus in their aggressiveness, something that paid off often last year, will be key to another victory.
Prediction: 1-2 Arsenal win. Goals for Alexis and Xhaka. Ighalo to strike for Watford.