Arsenal v Watford preview: Gunners could welcome back Petr Cech
Saturday 2 April 2016 14:59, UK
Arsenal go into their game with Watford at the Emirates Stadium 11 points adrift of Leicester, albeit with a game in hand on the Premier League leaders.
Arsenal's victory at Everton immediately before the international break was only their second success in nine games in all competitions and they will have to produce a dramatic upturn in form if they are to increase the pressure on the Foxes and second-placed Tottenham.
They will also have revenge on their minds after Quique Sanchez Flores' Hornets inflicted a shock when they dumped the Gunners out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage last month.
Mid-table Watford are all but safe and have a Wembley semi-final date with Crystal Palace to look forward to.
Team news
Arsenal could welcome back goalkeeper Petr Cech for Saturday's home game.
The 33-year-old has missed the last five games with a calf problem but may return against the Hornets, with David Ospina likely to drop back to the bench.
Manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Jack Wilshere (leg) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) are back in full training but will not be involved while fellow midfielders Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) also remain absent.
Flores has no fresh injury or suspension worries ahead of the game.
The club's international contingent returned unscathed from representing their countries and Flores plans to make a decision on his match-day squad after watching the team's final training sessions.
Defender Joel Ekstrand, having only recently returned from a serious knee injury, is unlikely to feature despite playing 75 minutes of a Watford Under-21 game over the Easter break.
Opta stats
Arsenal had won the previous six meetings with Watford before a 1-2 defeat last month in the FA Cup quarter final.
The Hornets scored with their only two shots on target in that 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Watford and Arsenal have met 17 times in the league with both sides winning eight times, with one draw.
Watford have won just one of their last six Premier League away games (W1 D1 L4) and failed to score in four of the last five.
Arsenal have scored just six goals in their last eight home games in all competitions, averaging 25 shots for each goal scored. They have averaged nine shots faced for each goal conceded.
Arsenal have led at half time in none of their last 10 matches in all competitions at Emirates Stadium.
23 of Watford's 30 Premier League goals this season have either been scored by Odion Ighalo or Troy Deeney (77 per cent).
Watford have recovered just two points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, the fewest in the division.
Watford have not won twice against Arsenal in the same season (all comps) since 1987-88, but they have never won away against the Gunners twice in a season (all comps).
Only Crystal Palace (2) have collected fewer points from Premier League games in 2016 than Watford (8).
Merson's prediction
There's no pressure on Arsenal so they will win this game. They are the best team in the country when there is no pressure on them.
They lost the big one in the quarter-final of the cup but Watford don't have much to play for and I can't seem winning at the Emirates again.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet's odds: 7/1)
Betting
Arsenal are just 1/3 to gain ground on their title rivals with a victory, as Sky Bet make Watford 8/1 outsiders for the win and 4/1 to secure a draw. Olivier Giroud is considered the hosts' main threat as 3/1 first goalscorer favourite despite his recent struggles in front of goal, while Odion Ighalo is 15/2 to repeat his FA Cup heroics and break the deadlock.
