Arsenal will take on Watford FC in the Premier League this weekend and the Gunners will be looking to bounce back after dropping points in their previous two matches.
The Gunners did make a good start to the new campaign but have since failed to win their last two matches – though we don’t blame them since these games were against Liverpool and Spurs respectively.
But Unai Emery’s men should pick up all three points this weekend since Watford are currently sitting at the bottom of the league table with just a single point and the Hornets will also be playing their first league match under new boss Quique Sánchez Flores.
Arsenal news vs Watford:
The major Arsenal news will be with the injury to Lucas Torreira especially after he pulled out of Uruguay’s clash vs the USA due to ‘muscle discomfort’.
While multiple reports have claimed the midfielder has picked up an injury but the Gunners have released a statement saying they have no fresh injury concerns regarding the players who were out on international duty.
If this statement holds true then there is a big chance that Torreira will get to start in central midfield alongside Matteo Guendouzi as Granit Xhaka drops back the bench.
Granit Xhaka also picked up Achilles problem while playing for Switzerland but the midfielder has doused all fears and has claimed that he is ready to play in the Watford vs Arsenal clash.
Rob Holding has returned back to full training for the Gunners but the game vs Watford will surely come too early for him to make a comeback meaning the pairing of Sokratis and Luiz will once again play in central defence.
Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are making good progress off the pitch but they will only return back to action sometime next month which means Maitland-Niles will play as the right-back while Kolasinac plays on the left.
Dani Ceballos and Nicolas Pepe have both impressed for Arsenal and the summer signings should get first-team starts on Sunday. But if Ceballos starts then Mesut Ozil will once again be warming the benches.
Lacazette and Aubameyang both started upfront during the North London Derby and Arsenal looked a real threat while going forward – especially in the second half.
And given that the Hornets are languishing at the bottom of the table, there’s no doubt that Unai Emery will start with the duo during the Watford vs Arsenal game.
Watford vs Arsenal: Gunners’ predicted line-up
Starting XI: Leno; Kolasinac, Sokratis, Luiz, Maitland-Niles; Guendouzi, Torreira/Xhaka; Ceballos, Aubameyang, Pepe; Lacazette.
