With Arsenal already five points behind in the title race after only two games, Arsène Wenger needs a victory at Vicarage Road. Not that Walter Mazzarri’s Watford are without their own concerns after losing their past two matches. Mazzarri has been busy in the transfer window but the new signings Roberto Pereyra, Younès Kaboul and Daryl Janmaat are unlikely to start. Paul MacInnes
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Vicarage Road
Last season Watford 0 Arsenal 3
Referee Kevin Friend
This season G1, Y8, R0, 8.00 cards per game
Odds H 9-2 A 8-11 D 14-5
Team news
Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Alex Iwobi (thigh), Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Carl Jenkinson (all knee) are still missing for Arsenal.
Watford's new signings Daryl Janmaat, Younes Kaboul and Roberto Pereyra are unlikely to start at Vicarage Road.
Along with the fit-again Isaac Success they are in contention, but Mazzarri is not expected to make many changes to the team that last week lost 2-1 to Chelsea.
He rotated his squad for Tuesday's 2-1 EFL Cup defeat by Gillingham, but the Italian spoke of those selected against Chelsea deserving another chance.
Opta stats
Watford have lost all six of their games against Arsenal in the Premier League, although they did beat the Gunners last season in an FA Cup quarter final match (2-1).
Arsenal have won seven of their last eight matches against Watford in all competitions (L1).
Indeed, Watford haven't beaten Arsenal in league competition since a 1-0 win in April 1988, courtesy a goal from Rick Holden.
Watford have been leading at some point in each of their two Premier League matches this season, but have claimed just a point from these games (W0 D1 L1).
Etienne Capoue has scored in both of Watford's Premier League games this season - no Watford player has scored in each of their opening three top-flight matches within a season.
Arsenal have collected one point from their opening two Premier League matches of 2016-17; their lowest tally at this stage
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue Vicarage Road
Last season Watford 0 Arsenal 3
Referee Kevin Friend
This season G1, Y8, R0, 8.00 cards per game
Odds H 9-2 A 8-11 D 14-5
Team news
Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Alex Iwobi (thigh), Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Carl Jenkinson (all knee) are still missing for Arsenal.
Watford's new signings Daryl Janmaat, Younes Kaboul and Roberto Pereyra are unlikely to start at Vicarage Road.
Along with the fit-again Isaac Success they are in contention, but Mazzarri is not expected to make many changes to the team that last week lost 2-1 to Chelsea.
He rotated his squad for Tuesday's 2-1 EFL Cup defeat by Gillingham, but the Italian spoke of those selected against Chelsea deserving another chance.
Opta stats
Watford have lost all six of their games against Arsenal in the Premier League, although they did beat the Gunners last season in an FA Cup quarter final match (2-1).
Arsenal have won seven of their last eight matches against Watford in all competitions (L1).
Indeed, Watford haven't beaten Arsenal in league competition since a 1-0 win in April 1988, courtesy a goal from Rick Holden.
Watford have been leading at some point in each of their two Premier League matches this season, but have claimed just a point from these games (W0 D1 L1).
Etienne Capoue has scored in both of Watford's Premier League games this season - no Watford player has scored in each of their opening three top-flight matches within a season.
Arsenal have collected one point from their opening two Premier League matches of 2016-17; their lowest tally at this stage
since 2011-12 (also one point).
The Gunners' lowest points tally after three Premier League matches in a season is one point, also set in 2011-12. They finished that season in third place.
Watford
Watford were sent packing in the League Cup midweek losing in extra time to League One Gillingham (1-2). Despite fielding a strong side Watford had to play an extra unwanted 30 minutes which won't help them at the weekend when Arsenal are the visitors.
In their last Premier League game the Hornets were very unlucky to lose 1-2 to Chelsea. The performance unlike on Tuesday was decent and Walter Mazzarri will expect a big improvement this weekend.
Watford's home form was unpredictable last season with a record of 6-6-7. At home to the top 4 they lost all 4 games by scorelines of 0-1, 0-3 and 1-2 (x2).
It's 7 games without a clean sheet in the league for Watford overall and 6 at home. The good news is that they have scored at Vicarage Road in the last 5 but with 1 home win in the last 7 it's going to be a shock to see them beating Arsenal.
Arsenal
It's not crisis time just yet at the Emirates but Arsenal have made a poor start. With 2 games played they have 1 point and already trail the Manchester clubs and Chelsea by 5 points.
Wenger's side drew 0-0 at Leicester which was reasonable after their shambolic performance against Liverpool (3-4) on the opening weekend of the season.
The Gunners are good travellers ranked 3rd last season and they scored a league high 34 away goals, averaging almost 2 a game. Having drawn their last 3 away last season and then at Leicester this season Arsenal really need to win this one to kick start their season.
With Ozil reportedly returning for this game and Koscielny back in defence Arsenal should have enough firepower to see off Watford as they did in both league matches last season.
Betting Verdict
I like Arsenal to go to Vicarage Road and win on Saturday. Arsenal were stunned by Watford in the FA Cup but I think they will repeat the league performances over them which ended in 4-0 and 3-0 victories.
Watford struggle against the top sides at home and lost all 8 games against the top 4 last season. In the home losses 3/4 were by 1 goal but that game which was greater was against Arsenal (0-3).
With the asian line at -0.75 I will back the visitors as I expect them to at least win. Whether they can by 2 or more remains to be seen but I don't see Watford taking anything from this one.
The hornets threw away a winning position at home to Chelsea, then lost at home to Gillingham after extra time. Arsenal have had the week off and Wenger will want to calm all the paper talk winning before the International break. Arsenal by a couple.
The Gunners' lowest points tally after three Premier League matches in a season is one point, also set in 2011-12. They finished that season in third place.
Watford
Watford were sent packing in the League Cup midweek losing in extra time to League One Gillingham (1-2). Despite fielding a strong side Watford had to play an extra unwanted 30 minutes which won't help them at the weekend when Arsenal are the visitors.
In their last Premier League game the Hornets were very unlucky to lose 1-2 to Chelsea. The performance unlike on Tuesday was decent and Walter Mazzarri will expect a big improvement this weekend.
Watford's home form was unpredictable last season with a record of 6-6-7. At home to the top 4 they lost all 4 games by scorelines of 0-1, 0-3 and 1-2 (x2).
It's 7 games without a clean sheet in the league for Watford overall and 6 at home. The good news is that they have scored at Vicarage Road in the last 5 but with 1 home win in the last 7 it's going to be a shock to see them beating Arsenal.
Arsenal
It's not crisis time just yet at the Emirates but Arsenal have made a poor start. With 2 games played they have 1 point and already trail the Manchester clubs and Chelsea by 5 points.
Wenger's side drew 0-0 at Leicester which was reasonable after their shambolic performance against Liverpool (3-4) on the opening weekend of the season.
The Gunners are good travellers ranked 3rd last season and they scored a league high 34 away goals, averaging almost 2 a game. Having drawn their last 3 away last season and then at Leicester this season Arsenal really need to win this one to kick start their season.
With Ozil reportedly returning for this game and Koscielny back in defence Arsenal should have enough firepower to see off Watford as they did in both league matches last season.
Betting Verdict
I like Arsenal to go to Vicarage Road and win on Saturday. Arsenal were stunned by Watford in the FA Cup but I think they will repeat the league performances over them which ended in 4-0 and 3-0 victories.
Watford struggle against the top sides at home and lost all 8 games against the top 4 last season. In the home losses 3/4 were by 1 goal but that game which was greater was against Arsenal (0-3).
With the asian line at -0.75 I will back the visitors as I expect them to at least win. Whether they can by 2 or more remains to be seen but I don't see Watford taking anything from this one.
The hornets threw away a winning position at home to Chelsea, then lost at home to Gillingham after extra time. Arsenal have had the week off and Wenger will want to calm all the paper talk winning before the International break. Arsenal by a couple.
