Today's Watford reminds me a bit of the history of the championship Leicester. No, I'm not saying that the Hornets will win the Premier League or even break into the top 4. Just behind already 7 rounds, Watford played them brilliantly, but the market ignores the achievements of Marco Silva and still considers his team a basement fighter. Although both in terms of the game and the results, Watford is one of the main discoveries of this season.
Watford are just 1 point behind the top quartet. Of the 7 starting matches, he lost only 1, against the phenomenal Man City. Yes, the calendar was relatively simple, but they took away points from Liverpool (3:3), beat Southampton dry (0:2). I'm sure, if it weren't for a stupid removal in the home game with Brighton (0:0), the Hornets would now be higher in the table than Arsenal.
About how cool Watford is in tactical terms, all specialized English-language publications are trumpeting. W-shaped midfield, well-placed transition - this and much more makes Watford a very difficult opponent. Coach Marco Silva is cool: remember Hull, who, although he was in the relegation zone, practically did not lose at home (in particular, there was an 8-match unbeaten streak). Obviously, it will not be easy for anyone on Vicarage Road either. 1.6 to defeat the local team is not enough. Especially from Arsenal, who in 3 away matches this season scored only 1 point out of 9 possible...
Moreover, in 270 minutes of away football, Arsenal did not score a single goal. Ok, crackers away at Liverpool and Chelsea is understandable, but a 1-0 loss to Stoke is a fail, unworthy of a team going 1.6 at Vicarage Road. Wenger's team has come out of a psychological crisis, the pressure has decreased, but this is only because the team has not traveled outside of London since August 27 (as part of the Premier League). There are 3 most difficult trips ahead in 20 days, after which, most likely, there will again be talk of Wenger's resignation.
Londoners, as always, have a lot of personnel difficulties. Mustafi broke down last week. It is not known in what condition Kolasinac returned from the national team (he was replaced at half-time due to injury). Sanchez played Wednesday night South America, after such long flights and a short recovery time, he usually remains in reserve. Welbeck and Ozil returned to the general group, but did not get into shape. Questionable Wilshere, Iwobi and Walcott. Cazorla, Coquelin and Chambers are still broken. It seems like Koscielny recovered, but it is not known whether he has gained optimal form after the absence. In short, a mess. The hosts have no losses compared to the last round.
Watford, even last season, was a tough nut to crack - they beat Manchester United and Everton at home, Arsenal away. Under Marco Silva, the team has made significant progress, but the Gunners, as always, are unstable outside the Emirates and are experiencing difficulties with the composition. Prediction: +1 on hosts.
Watford lost 6 games in a row at the end of last season and finished 17th. On the home field, the team looked much better than away, but this season the opposite is true - 3 wins away, and 2 draws at home and a defeat. On account of Watford 3 goals scored Arsenal for two last face-to-face meetings, in the last one he even won 1:2 at the Emirates, but the teams have never parted in the world in the entire history of their meetings. Current position of Watford in standings- 6th line with 11 points scored. The balance of goals scored and missed is 9:10.
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Arsenal
Arsenal won in the first round match, although Leicester City took the lead twice. The Gunners have shown that they have someone to score. The match of the second round was played on the road and all the statistics spoke of the superiority of Arsenal (22/78 possession percentage), but Stoke City defeated Arsenal thanks to a goal from Jesse loaned from PSG. The third round was the most unfortunate for Arsenal - Jurgen Klopp's wards hit the opponent's goal twice in each half. Liverpool just destroyed Arsenal. By the 82nd minute, the Gunners never hit the home team's goal. The fourth round was much more successful, but the opponent was also an easy one - Bournemouth. Then there was an away draw with Chelsea and a home win over West Brom. Arsenal are in 7th place in the standings with 10 points scored. The balance of goals scored and conceded is 9:8.
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Head-to-head meetings: Watford - Arsenal
Watford got off to a great start with their new boss, renowned coach Marco Silva. New mentor had a positive impact on the team. The impression of meetings with big clubs was slightly spoiled by the score 0:6 in favor of Manchester City, but the draw with Liverpool gives us and the fans hope for the same result in the upcoming match with Arsenal. Arsenal are slowly coping with their problems. Sanchez returned to the team, and the whole team is ready to obey the coach unconditionally. The teams have similar statistics and the first draw between them should someday take place, now is the right moment for it. Recommended bet on a draw, with a high win rate of 4.1 (according to BC Marathon).
Watford is clearly underestimated by bookmakers. Behind already seven rounds, and the Hornets lost, albeit devastatingly, only to Manchester City. On the this moment the team is in eighth place in the standings, lagging behind the same Arsenal by only one point. It is noteworthy that Watford he plays better on the road than at home, where, in addition to the defeat from the “citizens”, he finished two more matches with Liverpool 3:3 and Brighton 0:0. Special problems with the composition of Marco Silva no. The question is only participation in the match Younes Kabul and Sebastian Predlya.
"Arsenal"
"Arsenal" coming to the matches again with big problems with the composition. The day before in the match for the national team was injured Mustafi. In addition to him, there are a number of other players in the infirmary. Just won't play Santi Cazorla. But Wilshere, Iwobi and Walcott can still take to the field. The issue will be resolved before the fight. It is not clear in what condition they returned from the national teams Sanchez and Kolasinac. So far, Arsenal have been a complete failure in the league on the road. In three matches, the Gunners suffered two defeats against Stoke City 0:1 and Liverpool 0:4, and also drew with Chelsea - 0:0.
Statistics and personal meetings
- Watford lost in the current championship only one match.
- Arsenal have yet to win this season away from home, scoring just one goal in three away matches.
- "Arsenal" beat Watford in the previous two away matches in a row.
away results "Arsenal" can't help but worry. While the Gunners didn't play too badly in September, the easy walk to the Hornets won't be for sure. In addition, the guests have a lot more problems with the composition.
Our prediction is that Arsenal will not lose and the total goals will be under 3.5 in 2.00.
Arsenal lose Mustafi for six weeks
Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi will not help the teams in the English Premier League match against Watford.
According to The Sun, the German suffered a muscle injury and will miss up to six weeks. The closest rivals of the Londoners, apart from Watford, are Red Star, Everton and Norwich.
Mustafi will need time to recover upon his return to Arsenal
German defender Shkodran Mustafi suffered a muscle injury in the World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan (5:1).
According to the head coach of the national team Joachim Loew, the 25-year-old will need to miss some time due to recovery. Note that this season Mustafi played only 6 matches (0 goals) for Arsenal. The defender also missed some of the games due to health problems.
Rami called up for France squad instead of Koscielny
France head coach Didier Deschamps has additionally called up Marseille defender Adil Rami to the national team.
The replacement was required by the injured 32-year-old Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny (49 caps for France, 1 goal), who has problems with the Achilles tendon and will not play in the next meetings. On account of his peer Rami - respectively 33 matches and also 1 goal.
Germany will do without the help of Gomez, Ozil, Hector and Khedira
Three world champions missed due to injuries, the head coach of the German national team Joachim Löw before the final qualifying matches of the 2018 World Cup with Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.
Not called, in particular, midfielders Mesut Ozil (86 caps, 22 goals) from Arsenal and Sami Khedira (71 caps, 7 goals) from Juventus. As for the captain of the national team Manuel Neuer (74 matches), the 31-year-old goalkeeper of Bayern, we recall, was out of action for a long time due to a broken leg.
Also, due to various injuries, this time one of its best scorers, 32-year-old Mario Gomez (71 matches, 31 goals) from Wolfsburg, and one of the most productive defenders, 27-year-old Jonas Hector (35 matches, 3 goals) from Cologne
29 Sep / 17:56
Alli will not play with Slovenia, Welbeck is not called up to the national team
Tottenham and England midfielder Bamidele Alli has been suspended for one match.
Tottenham and England midfielder Bamidele Alli has been suspended for one match in the 2018 World Cup qualifying round against Slovenia on October 5. FIFA issued such a disciplinary decision against the 21-year-old midfielder (21 caps, 2 goals) for his obscene gesture in the previous meeting with Slovakia (2:1).
At the same time, Alli, unlike Arsenal forward Daniel Welbeck (36 matches, 15 goals), who is still recovering from his injury, was called up to the national team and can play in Lithuania on October 8
22 Sep / 07:35
Welbeck will not play against West Bromwich, BATE and Brighton
Arsenal striker Daniel Welbeck is out for at least three weeks with a groin injury.
Arsenal and England striker Daniel Welbeck has been out of action for at least three weeks with a groin injury. The striker will be able to return to the field for the match against Watford on 14 October. During his recovery, he will miss the Champions League game against BATE Borisov, as well as the English Championship matches against West Bromwich Albion and Brighton n Hove Albion, plus the 2018 World Cup qualifiers with Slovenia and Lithuania. Welbeck has 3 goals and 1 assist in 6 games this season.
On 10/14/2017 at 19:30 Moscow time at the Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, the local Hornets will host the London Arsenal as part of the 8th game day of the English Premier League.
Wards of Marco Silva play on their own, in attack. Therefore, in the fifth round of the Premier League, the "golden boys" were mercilessly beaten by Manchester City with a score of 0:6. You can’t play like that with the giants, otherwise, the next battle cannot be avoided. With the "Reds" it turned out to play 3:3 only because of the big problems of Klopp's team in defense. Wenger and his “gunners” do not have such a mess in the back line. But with the middle peasants and outsiders, Watford plays confidently, is in a high 8th place, has 12 points in the piggy bank, claims to be in the TOP-5 and European cups.
Arsenal failed to start, lost to Stoke City 0:1 and Liverpool 0:4, but due to the excellent game at the Emirates, they were far from behind the TOP-4. Before the eighth round, the London team has 13 points, the same for Chelsea, one point less than Tottenham, which is in third position in the table. So far, Arsenal has trouble with away matches: two pockets and a draw in the derby with the Blues.
Forecast for Watford - Arsenal
In the 2016-17 season Watford and Arsenal have played each other twice: Arsenal 1-2 Watford; Watford - Arsenal 1:3. Watford are ahead of the Gunners in the tournament, but bookmakers believe that Arsene Wenger's squad has the best chance of winning Saturday's match. Discussion line: Watford has already fought against Liverpool at Vicarage Road, shows a good level of football. While Arsenal is still a home team, the Red-Whites do not often show their maximum on the road. But on the other hand, Watford suits Arsenal in style. P1 - 5.70 in BC Marathon; X - 4.30 in BC Pari-Match; P2 - 1.66 in BC 1xbet;
Riding pair, Watford does not play second at all, even with MS they tried to attack, for which they paid. Approximately, the same can be said about the Londoners, who are rarely inferior to anyone in possession of the ball. A successful match is very likely.
Forecast from site site - "Total over 2.5", with a coefficient of 1.71 on the BC line 1x bet.
Table with coefficients
 |  |  |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.60 | 4.32 | 1.66 | |
| 5.70 | 4.333 | 1.64 | |
| 5.30 | 4.30 | 1.58 | |
| 5.32 | 4.15 | 1.64 | |