Nico Williams Arsenal Emirates Stadium
Arsenal FC Emirates Stadium

Arsenal take on relegation battling Watford in the Premier League on Sunday and all eyes will be on Mikel Arteta’s team selection during the final matchday of the 2019-20 season.

The Gunners are currently 10th on the league table with 53 points meaning even if they pick up a win and all the other results go in their favour, at best, they will be able to finish eighth on the league table.

That position is not good enough to ensure Europa League football next season which is why many pundits think Arteta could rest a number of his big-name players and field the youngsters against the Hornets.

Now speaking ahead of the final match of the PL season, the Arsenal boss has made it clear that while he does want to rotate his squad on Sunday but at the same time, he will ensure that he does justice to all the other teams which are also fighting the relegation battle along with Watford.

“I am going to assess the squad, how they’re feeling, how everyone has recovered and ideally I want to play as strong a team as I can,” he said in his press conference.

“We have to respect that there are a few teams in a relegation battle and we are responsible for that as well.

“That’s the way we will prepare the game that’s for sure, we need to know the responsibility we have towards the other clubs and the responsibility we have wearing the shirt in any game.

“It has to be to win the football game and prepare so if mentally you are not ready, or your level of dedication is not 100 per cent, then you have a problem.

“A strong side doesn’t mean that players that have played less will not participate. For me, it’s more about how we approach the game and how we go into that game to win the game. That is not 50/0, there is no lack of intensity, anything like that. We cannot do that.

“We have to do what we have to do and we can only be responsible for how we perform and approach the football matches.

“In the same way as I’m saying it’s a reflection of what you have done in 10 months after it cannot be just a reflection of what you’ve done in one or two games so I think it works the same way for everybody.”

Players like Nicolas Pepe, Aubameyang and Lacazette could also be rested on Sunday and will on be brought in if needed.

This means youngster such as Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah will play up front and there’s also a very slight chance that Mikel Arteta might call back Mesut Ozil into the starting line-up(in case he is fully fit to play).

Read: Why Arsenal will not stumble against Watford on Sunday.

Read: Will Arsenal slump to yet another loss during the final matchday?

Read: 3-4-3 Arsenal’s predicted line-up vs Watford.

Read: Granit Xhaka explains what went wrong for Arsenal during the Villa loss.