2018-19 Premier League: Week 34 – Monday

Watford wraps up the latest round of Premier League action as they welcome Arsenal to Vicarage Road for Monday Night Football. 

After defeats for Leicester, Wolves and Everton on Saturday, this is a huge chance for Watford to seize the initiative in the race for that seventh spot. 

Arsenal however can move into the top four with victory and boost their hopes of clinching a Champions League spot. 

Team news

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Isaac Success is a doubt for Watford with a knee injury as he faces a late fitness test ahead of the game.

Gerard Deulofeu (ankle) and Kiko Femenia (knock) however are expected to be on the team sheet, whilst Adalberto Penaranda is still a few weeks away from returning from his thigh injury

Tom Cleverley (calf), Jose Holebas (ankle) and Domingos Quina (shoulder) are all ruled out but could return before the end of season. 

Arsenal could have Granit Xhaka available after the Swiss international missed their last three matches with a thigh issue. 

Sokratis Papastathopoulos (suspension), Danny Welbeck (ankle), Hector Bellerin & Rob Holding (knee) are all sidelined for the Gunners.  

 

Form

Watford enter this game off the back of their impressive comeback against Wolves in the FA Cup Semi-Finals last weekend, although they have won just two of their last five league games. 

The Hornets however have taken 11 points from their last five home games and are yet to lose here in 2019. 

Arsenal enter this game off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Everton last weekend, which brought their six match unbeaten run to an end, during which they picked up four away points having lost their previous three such trips beforehand. 

 

Stat Attack

• Watford have won two of their last six meetings with Arsenal (W2, L4). 
• Arsenal have won their last two meetings by a combined 5-0 aggregate, just as many as Watford scored in the previous three beforehand. 
• 9 of last 11 goals (including own goals) in this fixture have all come from nine different goalscorers, with Watford’s Troy Deeney the only player to score twice during this run.
• Jose Holebas of Watford has collected a joint league high 11 yellow cards this season alongside Newcastle’s Fabian Schar and Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma. 
• Arsenal are one of three teams to have scored a league high three goals from free-kicks this season alongside Leicester and Southampton, whilst Watford are yet to do so. 

 

Prediction

This is an interesting situation for Watford because by reaching the FA Cup Final, they have the back-up option of qualifying for Europe but finishing seventh in the league is still their best bet. 

I therefore am expecting them to give this game a good go against what will be an attacking Arsenal team. 

Both teams however know that every point matters in their perspective battles so am going for a draw here. 

Prediction: Watford 1-1 Arsenal

Jake predicts: Watford 2-1 Arsenal

Result: Watford 0-1 Arsenal