Saturday 14th October 2017 Kickoff: 1730hrs Watford v Arsenal Football – England – Premier League It’s a London derby time at Vicarage Road as improving Watford host an Arsenal team who have recovered extremely well from their heavy defeat to Liverpool earlier in the campaign. Marco Silva has already started to make his mark since arriving at Watford in the summer and will relish the visit of one of the in-form sides over the last month in the Premier League, as a win for the hosts would seem the leapfrog their opponents. Arsene Wenger will not be thinking about that, however, as he bids to look up and seek three points that would keep them on the tails of the Manchester clubs at the top of the table.
There was a staleness about Watford last season under Walter Mazzarri and it was no surprise to see the club make a change in the summer. The Italian played a very methodical style of football and filled his team full of athletes, which restricted their technical game. It’s been the complete opposite under Silva who has continued his good work from Hull by implementing an attractive brand of football which is effective in getting results. The Hornets have lost only once this season, although it was a thumping 6-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. It’s been their form at home which has probably been the most disappointing aspect of their campaign to date having failed to win any of their three games in the league, and also losing in the League Cup to Bristol City. A game against Arsenal certainly doesn’t present an easy opportunity to get their first home win of the season but it’s something that Silva will be looking to rectify soon.
It looked like being a really bleak season ahead for Arsenal with all the Alexis Sanchez transfer speculation and ending the month of August with an embarrassing 4-0 loss at Anfield. Many predicted it was a sign of things to come for Wenger and his men but they have responded as well as they possibly could have, winning every single game since in all competitions bar one, which was a valuable point away to champions Chelsea. It’s a run that has propelled them into fifth spot, just behind the Blues and North London rivals Tottenham. The fact they are now above Liverpool in the table is further proof of the hysteria that surrounds each game at times in this league, and how unfounded it can be. Wenger’s team have responded to their critics well but it’s also fair to say they have had a relatively kind run and are coming into a more testing period. Before the end of November the Gunners play Everton, Manchester City and Tottenham, and will be looking to the next games, including this one against Watford, to continue to build their points tally.
Watford v Arsenal Betting Tip
Arsenal have not conceded a goal in the league since shipping four to Liverpool but I have some hesitancy in believing that they have all of a sudden solved what have been long standing deficiencies in defence. Even their wins over Brighton and West Brom at home have included a number of scares from two teams who have struggled in an attacking sense all season. Watford have not struggled to score goals this season and boast a healthy record of 11 goals scored in their seven games – the same number as their opponents. I think this game has all the ingredients for being a very open and entertaining encounter as both managers do look for their teams to dominate possession but also have pace in abundance in attack to counter when winning the ball back. It’s a match up which I believe screams goals so back over 2.5 and sit back and enjoy.
Over 2.5 goals 4/7 @ Coral
