Rejoice! The international break is over, and regular service may now resume for what should be a thrilling Premier League run-in.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s match, Watford take on Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in a clash that will, one way or another, bolster or end the North London club’s title push.
Arsenal are nine points behind leaders Leicester and six behind arch-rivals Tottenham. The Gunners need a win to stay in touch with the league’s pace setters and to maintain any hope of lifting the Premier League trophy aloft at seasons end.
A win for Watford could propel the Hertfordshire club as high as 11th and up to the mystical 40-point mark, a beacon of safety for all promoted clubs. A negative result is seen as a formality, especially with Arsenal’s title push still alive.
The Hornets sensationally dumped Arsenal out of the FA Cup back in March with a 2-1 victory away, shocking most football fans and piling more misery on the Arsene Wenger’s side after being beaten in straight sets by Barcelona in the Champions League (Arsenal’s second tournament exit in three days after the FA Cup exit).
POPULAR ARTICLES
Premier League Crown a two-horse title race
A lack of world-class strikers the Achilles heel for Premier League clubs
Manchester City must trim dead weight
Socceroo and Liverpool defender Brad Smith opens up about Jurgen Klopp
Watford will need all the mental strength they can muster, having lost all three of their Premier League March games and will aim to use the FA Cup win as fuel to mount a charge up the ladder after a mediocre March.
After last week’s loss to Stoke City at home, Quique Sanchez Flores’s squad have won just two of their last 13 league fixtures. The Hornets rarely troubled the Potters throughout, struggling to get forward and create many meaningful chances and this issue has plagued the side during poor patches. The trouble rests mainly on having to rely solely on their exciting forward duo for a consistent route to goal. Odion Ighalo has 16 goals and Troy Deeney has 10 across all competitions, however, after a bright start to the season the Hornets find themselves lacking consistency.
With several players having enjoyed the two week break, the team should be well rested and ready to start afresh for what looms as a tough April that sees Watford take on not just Arsenal, but Everton (H), West Brom (A) and West Ham (A), as well as Crystal Palace (A) in the FA Cup. The Golden Boys now have just eight premier league games and an FA Cup semi-final before the season finishes up.
Prior to the shock cup exit, Arsenal had won the previous six meetings with Watford including a 3-0 league win in October. Watford had just two shots on target in the FA Cup win, both resulting in goals, but the stats, despite the positive result, will still be of concern to Flores who seeks a bigger threat to opposition defences.
The reliance on Deeney and Ighalo to be the focus of attacking power has come at a cost, while they started the season in fantastic fashion, the second half of the campaign has been a struggle, with the front two lacking support. Flores’ offseason plans should include back-up strikers and strengthening the backline. The Hornets are reportedly hoping to sign Nathan Ake to a permanent deal, although it will be hard to dissuade the Chelsea-loanee from his parent club unless his services are not required for the 2016/17 season.
Jose Manuel Jurado made his comeback in the match against Stoke after an injury layoff, playing little under an hour in an impressive performance and has high hopes for finishing off the season in a good vein of form.
After beating Everton comfortably away, Arsenal will be looking to pressure Tottenham and Leicester into poor results, while Watford are on a three match losing streak. While the North London side are superior in most facets on and off the pitch, Watford do hold a certain mental sway over the Gunners after the 2-1 FA Cup result. However, if Arsenal can match Watford’s effort and mental application, something Wenger’s men are criticised for not doing consistently enough, then this result is a foregone conclusion.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
