Arsenal seem to have hit their best form at the perfect time as they picked up a superb 2-1 and hard-fought win against Wolves last weekend. The Gunners are now in an excellent position to grab the final Champions League spot.
Arsenal are currently sixth on the Premier League table – two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United but the Gunners have three games in hand. If they can win all these games then they will very easily overcome West Ham and Man United to enter the top four.
Next up, the North London side take on Watford in their next Premier League game and given how they have been playing recently, Arsenal should be picking up an easy win.
Watford have lost their last 7 home league matches and they are currently 19th on the table. We really don’t expect the Hornets to put up any resistance on Sunday but if they can someone pick up even a point then it will be a big blow to Arsenal’s top-four hopes.
Arsenal team news vs Watford:
The manager sold several first-team players during the January transfer window so he does not have a big enough squad to make rotations.
Mikel Arteta on Lacazette: “When I see our striker in the 85th minute chasing a full-back in the corner flag, winning the ball back, fighting, missing one chance, missing two chances, going again – I can only praise him. At the end he got the reward. For me, it’s Laca’s goal.” pic.twitter.com/mboi6kSka3
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) February 25, 2022
Tomiyasu recovered from one calf injury only to pick up an injury in the other calf and he is ruled out for the Watford game which means Cedric Soares will once again get to start.
Arteta had told the press last week: “He came back and he was completely fine, and in training he felt the other calf.”
Xhaka and Thomas Partey have formed a formidable partnership in defensive midfield and even Martin Odegaard has cemented his role as the No 10.
Emile Smith-Rowe missed the previous game due to COVID but he’s returned to training on Tuesday so he should be available for selection against Watford.
It remains to be seen if the manager opts to use him on the left wing or does he select Gabriel Martinelli in that role. With Aubameyang gone, Lacazette is the obvious choice up front.
Nicolas Pepe came off the bench to have a massive positive influence against Wolves and he will surely be pushing for a place in the starting line up but we don’t think Mikel Arteta will risk dropping Bukayo Saka to the bench.
Arsenal’s predicted line up vs Watford:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Cedric, Ben White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Thomas Partey; Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli/Smith-Rowe; Lacazette.
