Midway through a pivotal, season-defining week, the Gunners travel the short distance to meet Watford at Vicarage Road in what is another must win game.
Having seen Granit Xhaka return to full training this past few days, on top of the encouraging partnership between Ramsey and Torreira against Napoli, Unai Emery could potentially have an abundance of midfield options to choose from. Whatever the combination, his men need to get a hold of the game from the get go and really take it to Watford. Of late, Arsenal have been bullied by Watford and under Wenger especially, performances away from home were pretty feable. Things have definitely turned a small corner though, and Torreira especially brings some real grit to a midfield that really needed it, and with his domestic suspension now over he is ready to go once again. Away form in general though needs a drastic improvement and that starts now over a team who'll be hungry to take another big scalp. FA Cup finalists in just a few weeks' time, it could be the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to revive their woeful away form.
In defence, Sokratis is suspended so at least one change is afoot. Koscielny and Monreal are likely to be joined by Shkodran Mustafi, whilst Leno will return in goal. Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles should again play in wide areas but with Napoli again in just three days' time, I wouldn't be surprised if we saw another change or two in the defence. Koscielny especially suffers playing more than a game or two a week so it could open the door for the likes of Dinos Mavropanos or Carl Jenkinson to return to the side. Going forward, we could see Ramsey play as a number ten alongside Ozil with only one striker but we know just how well Lacazette and Aubameyang play together so Emery could again be tempted. Should Xhaka not make the starting XI, Rambo could be deeper allowing for the deadly front duo, with Ozil in behind. On what's seemingly a small pitch and with Watford in relatively good form, a physical edge but with real goal scoring and creative quality is what's required. Away from home, the likes of Ozil, Mhkitaryan and Iwobi rarely seem to bring that edge...but things have got to change. The top four charge starts here.
The hosts on the other hand are perhaps a little more predictable. Javi Gracia is doing a fantastic job and although he has a reasonable squad, his preferred starting XI only ever changes one or two at a time. Bullish, dogged and up for it pretty much describes every Watford player and tonight will be no different. The guile that the likes of Pereyra and Hughes bring, combined with Deeney and Gray upfront is a dangerous mix that Arsenal should be well aware of. Former Barcelona man Gerard Deloufeu can win game all by himself as he's proved of late so certainly a dangerous customer Torreira and co need to keep an eye on. Ben Foster will return in goal after giving way to cup keeper Gomes in the FA Cup whilst the Hornets will be without Jose Holebas, Domingos Quina and Tom Cleverly. With the FA Cup final looming though, how many of Watford's players will truly be putting their bodies on the line with the biggest game of their lives only weeks away? We'll soon find out as the Gunners go for all three points in Hertfordshire against a buzzing Hornets team chasing another big win.
One omen in Arsenal's favour is that the Gunners have won 7 of their last 8 Premier League games on a Monday whilst Watford on the other hand, have only managed 2 wins from their last 15 Monday league games. A pressure most will be unaware of but an omen nevertheless and one that Arsenal should be looking to improve on.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
CB: Shkodran Mustafi
CB: Laurent Koscielny
CB: Nacho Monreal
RWB: Ainsley Maitland-Niles
CM: Lucas Torreira
CM: Aaron Ramsey
LWB: Sead Kolasinac
CAM: Mesut Ozil
ST: Alex Lacazette
ST: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: an uncomfortable and nervy 2-1 win for the Gunners.
@craigbennett10
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