English Premier
2021-11-07 - Arsenal vs Watford
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 7th November 2021 - Kick Off 2pm
This game is live on TV
Arsenal
A hugely impressive opening half an hour at the King Power Stadium set Arsenal on their way to another Premier League win and Mikel Arteta has a week to prepare his team for the next outing. They were thankful to Aaron Ramsdale and his big performance in goal, but Arsenal have momentum that they will want to bring out of the next international break when they visit Liverpool.
Another three points has moved Arsenal up to 6th in the Premier League table and just 3 points short of the top four, while the opening month of the season has disappeared behind them. The Gunners will be looking to keep the positive vibes going as they look to improve their 3-1-1 record at the Emirates Stadium where they have scored 9 goals and conceded 6.
Arsenal are now unbeaten in 9 games in all competitions and they have won 7 of those games, including the last 3 in a row. They have won 5 of their last 6 games at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions since the 0-2 defeat to Chelsea back in August.
Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka are both doubts for this game.
Watford
Claudio Ranieri will be glad that he will be given two weeks to really get his methods across to the Watford squad and he will be hoping that is enough time to help produce better consistency. The veteran manager has come into the club at a time when they are facing a very difficult run of fixtures and the 0-1 home defeat to Southampton would have really stung.
That defeat has dropped Watford down to 16th in the Premier League table and they are now just 3 points clear of the bottom three. The Hornets have earned the majority of their League points away from home where they have compiled a 2-0-3 record in the Premier League so far this season.
Watford's loss to Southampton means they have lost 3 of their last 4 Premier League games, but the exception was the come from behind 2-5 win at Everton a couple of weeks ago. They have won 2 of their last 3 away Premier League games with those victories at Norwich City and Everton sandwiching a defeat at Leeds United which cost Xisco the managerial job.
Emmanuel Dennis is available after serving a suspension, but Kiko Femenia remains a doubt.
Head to Head
These clubs last met two seasons ago in the Premier League and Arsenal took 4 points from the matches.
Arsenal beat Watford 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium and they have won 3 in a row at home against this opponent.
Prediction
The last international break until March is going to get underway following the latest round of Premier League fixtures and this is a big chance for Arsenal to enter the two week break with plenty of optimism.
A slow start to the season has been replaced with a strong run of form and Arsenal are now back in amongst the top six and with a chance to close the gap on the teams above them. The Manchester derby and West Ham United host Liverpool means the four teams immediately above Arsenal are facing one another and this is a real chance for Mikel Arteta's men to get a little closer to the top four.
The manager will be urging his team to focus on what they can do for themselves and Arsenal have found a pretty decent balance in home games which makes them dangerous. The goalkeeper has been vital to their recent positive results away from home, but Arsenal have been much more confident at the Emirates Stadium and they are scoring plenty of goals here.
I expect them to do the same against a Watford team who are still working out the patterns that Claudio Ranieri is trying to implement on them. The manager is known for his organisation, but Watford have looked really vulnerable when teams have attacked them and they were fortunate that Southampton's poor finishing kept them in the game last weekend.
Even then, the 0-1 home loss to Southampton is a huge blow for Watford who would have expected to back up the 2-5 win at Everton the week before. They have a very difficult run of fixtures beginning with this game at Arsenal followed by games against Manchester United, Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester City.
There doesn't feel like a lot of points to be earned in that run so there is some pressure on Watford.
It is hard to see them earning anything here with Arsenal likely to dominate the chances and I do think they can secure another win at home. They have beaten Watford 3 times in a row at home and Arsenal have been creating a lot more chances here than they have on their travels, which is a real concern for Watford and their vulnerable defence.
The counter attack is the best approach Watford will take, but I think they will struggle to contain a home team playing with the swagger that Arsenal have been. If they get in front, I think Arsenal will be able to produce too much in the final third for Watford to deal with and they can win by a couple of goals as they secure another three points.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 3-1 Watford
