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Arsenal logo
Premier League | Gameweek 11
Nov 7, 2021 at 2pm UK
Emirates Stadium
Watford logo

Arsenal
1 - 0
Watford

Smith Rowe (56')
Sambi Lokonga (20'), Tomiyasu (30'), Aubameyang (52'), Magalhaes (80')
FT(HT: 0-0)

King (10'), Kucka (31'), Sissoko (54')
Kucka (89')

Preview: Arsenal vs. Watford - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Arsenal and Watford, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Arsenal will aim to stretch their unbeaten run across all competitions to 10 matches when they welcome Watford to the Emirates for Sunday's Premier League encounter.

The Gunners marched to a 2-0 win over Leicester City last time out, while Claudio Ranieri's side went down 1-0 to Southampton.


Match preview

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale pictured in October 2021© Reuters

Gabriel Magalhaes and Emile Smith Rowe's well-taken goals may have settled the contest in Arsenal's favour before the half-time whistle blew, but the man whose summer arrival sparked controversy within the Gunners fanbase once again came to his side's rescue against Leicester.

After somehow keeping out James Maddison's goal-bound free kick after the home crowd had already begun celebrating, Aaron Ramsdale thwarted Jonny Evans on the follow-up and made a total of eight saves on the day to preserve his side's clean sheet and send a clear selection message to Gareth Southgate.

The 23-year-old has been given the seal of approval from the likes of David Seaman and Peter Schmeichel as he continues to justify his big-money move from Sheffield United, and a fifth win from seven Premier League games has seen Arsenal suddenly surge to sixth in the rankings.

Defeat for Manchester United in Saturday's derby with Manchester City would give Arsenal a prime opportunity to break into the top five, and having taken 17 points from the last 21 on offer in the top flight, Mikel Arteta may have finally found a consistent formula for success.

The Gunners also welcome Watford to the Emirates having won three of their last four league games on home soil - scoring eight goals in their last three - and the Ranieri momentum with the Hornets took quite the blow last week.

Watford manager Claudio Ranieri on October 23, 2021© Reuters

To say that Ranieri's fortunes in the Watford dugout have been mixed would be an understatement, with the Premier League title winner firstly witnessing his side concede five to Liverpool before scoring five against their Merseyside rivals Everton.

However, the Hornets well and truly lost their sting against Southampton in gameweek 10, as Che Adams's 20th-minute strike was all that separated the two sides on the South Coast as Watford were sent crashing back down to earth in dismal fashion.

Three defeats from four games - during which time they have failed to score in any of those losses - is hardly an encouraging record, but the 16th-placed Hornets remain three points clear of the drop zone as things stand.

Furthermore, two of Watford's three wins in the top flight this term have come away from home - where they have scored eight of their 12 league goals - although they are yet to face an inspired Arsenal defence with a goalkeeper in the form of his life.

Watford did claim a 2-1 win at the Emirates as recently as January 2017, but they have lost four of their last five top-flight encounters with their London rivals and have never kept a clean sheet against the Gunners in the Premier League.

Arsenal Premier League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W

Arsenal form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • W

Watford Premier League form:
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Watford form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L



Team News

Kieran Tierney limps off injured during Arsenal's game against Liverpool in the Premier League on April 3, 2021© Reuters

Arteta revealed in his pre-match press conference that Kieran Tierney should be in contention for this game as he aims to shake off an ankle bruise, which would leave Granit Xhaka as the hosts' only absentee for this battle.

However, Nuno Tavares has caught the eye with his energetic displays in Tierney's absence, and the Portugal Under-21 international could hold his place as Tierney works his way back to full fitness.

Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang boasts six goals from five Premier League appearances with Watford and should lead the line alongside Alexandre Lacazette in Arteta's 4-4-2.

Meanwhile, Watford attacker Ken Sema recently withdrew from international duty due to injury and will play no part in this contest, but Emmanuel Dennis is back from suspension and is in line to displace Cucho Hernandez.

Peter Etebo and Christian Kabasele are set to remain out for the time being, but Francisco Sierralta and Kiko Femenia are thought to have outside chances of being passed fit for the contest.

New arrival Nicolas N'Koulou has been building up his fitness and is now an option for Ranieri, but it would be a surprise to see him thrown straight into an encounter with an in-form Arsenal side.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Saka, Partey, Lokonga, Smith Rowe; Aubameyang, Lacazette

Watford possible starting lineup:
Foster; Ngakia, Cathcart, Troost-Ekong, Masina; Sissoko, Kucka; Sarr, Cleverley, Dennis; King


SM words green background

We say: Arsenal 2-0 Watford

Any hopes of Watford producing yet another five-goal showing are extremely slim, with Arteta reaping the rewards of having his first-choice backline fit and firing on all cylinders.

The Gunners have certainly looked more threatening on the attacking front since this change in shape, and we can only back the hosts to get the job done comfortably.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Arsenal win with a probability of 59.01%. A draw had a probability of 23% and a win for Watford had a probability of 18.02%.

The most likely scoreline for an Arsenal win was 1-0 with a probability of 12.51%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-0 (11.18%) and 2-1 (9.75%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (10.91%), while for a Watford win it was 0-1 (6.11%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 12.5% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted a 1-0 win for Arsenal in this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Arsenal vs Watford

Arsenal
89.3%
Draw
6.5%
Watford
4.2%
261
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Kieran Tierney limps off injured during Arsenal's game against Liverpool in the Premier League on April 3, 2021
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Arsenal handed Kieran Tierney boost ahead of Watford clash
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


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