Arsenal v Watford: Hornets capable of halting Gunners run

Arsenal v Watford
Saturday 29 September, 15:00

Arsenal have won six in-a-row but is everything rosy?

Arsenal were given a tough start under new manager, Unai Emery. They hosted the champions, Manchester City, on the opening Premier League weekend before making the short trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea a week later and they drew a blank in both games.

City outclassed them 2-0 as the Gunners tried to get to grips with Emery's style of play and Chelsea eventually came out on top in a rollercoaster affair in which Arsenal had fought back from being 2-0 down when a late Marcos Alonso strike pinched all three points, but they've had a 100% strike-rate since, winning four times in the Premier League, once in the Europa League and also in the League Cup.

The Gunners are up to sixth in the Premier League and everything looks rosy. They've only failed to score at the Emirates twice in their last 36 Premier League ties (against Manchester City on both occasions), their two main strikers, Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are on form.

Lacazette has scored in each of his last four Premier League starts and only Mo Salah (16) has scored more than Aubameyang (12) since the Gabonese star made his Premier League debut - and they've won eight of their last ten at home to Saturday's opponents, Watford. That all points to a straightforward three points on Saturday but I'm not convinced it's that going to be that simple.

Fast-starting Watford still playing well

In contrast to Arsenal, after a brilliant start to the season, which saw them progress in the League Cup away at Reading, as well get the maximum 12 points from their first four in the league, Watford have hit the buffers. Victories against Brighton, Crystal Palace and Spurs at home and Burnley away in the Premier League have been followed by a home defeat to Manchester United, a draw at Fulham and a defeat on penalties to Spurs on Wednesday night in the Cup.

They may have lost their way a bit but assuming Javi Gracia's charges have deteriorated significantly would be a big mistake. United were hanging on at Vicarage Road a fortnight ago, the Hornets should have at least doubled their early lead at Fulham before getting pegged back last Saturday and they were leading against Spurs until the 82nd minute on Wednesday night before eventually going out on penalties.

Had David de Gea not produced a magnificent save at the death, Watford would be travelling to the Emirates having not lost a match in 90 minutes all season.

Watford's record at Arsenal doesn't look great at first glance but they've actually won two of their last three against the Gunners in the Premier League (one at home and one away) and if we include their 2-1 win at the Emirates in the sixth round of the F.A Cup in 2016, they've won three of their last six.

Unconvincing Arsenal worth taking on

Although Arsenal have been winning, they haven't necessarily been convincing.

They came from behind to beat an out-of-form West Ham at home, needed a late winner to get the better of Cardiff 3-2, and victories against Newcastle, Ukrainians Vorskla Poltava and Brentford aren't anything to write home about - especially the latter, given the Bees enjoyed the majority of the possession and the tie was only put to bed in injury time. And the Gunners were second-best for much of the first half last week at home to Everton.

They eventually ran out 2-0 winners, thanks to one apiece from the aforementioned Lacazette and Aubameyang, but it was a far from convincing display with keeper, Petr Czech, keeping them in the game early on.

The early signs are good for Arsenal under Unai Emery, results wise, but it's probably going to take time and a couple of transfer windows for the club to shift wholeheartedly to his philosophies and I'm far from convinced that they're a team to be getting stuck in to at long odds-on. These two are closer matched than the betting suggests and I'm happy to lay the home side at 1.48.

Goals look likely from both sides

Both teams are scoring with regularity and eight of the 12 Premier League games involving either side this season have seen at least three goals scored. Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score are both long odds-on chances and so they should be. Watford have scored and conceded in each of their last five Premier League ties and both sides have found the net in four of Arsenal's six.

Same Game Multi

If you fancy combining two or more scenarios to build a bet that pays handsomely, click on the Same Game Multi tab at the top of the Sportsbook market and pick two or more selections to build a wager. For example, Watford and Draw (Double Chance) and Over 2.5 Goals pays very nearly 4/1.

Adding the prolific Aubameyang takes it up to more than 8/1 and chancing Watford's Andre Gray instead, who's looking to score for his third Premier League game in-a-row, is a 15/2 shot. Watford and Draw (Double Chance), Over 2.5 Goals and both Aubameyang and Gray to score pays a smidgen over 18/1.

RECOMMENDED BETS

4 Pts Lay Arsenal @ 1.48