Watford vs Arsenal news: Hodgson's Hornets out to stifle Gunners

Emmanuel Dennis Watford Man Utd Feb22

Arsenal are looking to lay down a marker in their European push as they travel to struggling Watford on Sunday. Planet Sport takes you inside the big game.

The Gunners sneaked a 1-0 win at the Emirates at the start of November, although they did miss a penalty and had an early goal ruled out through VAR.

Roy Hodgson has offered some sort of stability to struggling Watford, and Arsenal know exactly what they're in for as they make the short trip to Vicarage Road to face the scrapping relegation strugglers.

When: Sunday, March 6, 14:00 GMT

Where: Vicarage Road

Where to watch: Sky Sports

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Watford vs Arsenal?

Craig Pawson does not mind dishing out the cards, handing out 4.5 per game in the Premier League this season - although he's only given one penalty.

He's done just the one Watford game and handed out two bookings, as he has done in the two Arsenal games he's taken charge of.

Both of those games ended up in 3-1 wins for the Gunners, with the one penalty he's awarded this season going the way of Mikel Arteta's side in their victory over Aston Villa.

Season stats 2021/22: Premier League matches (18), yellows (81), reds (1), penalties (1)

Recent form

Watford have picked up five points from six games under Roy Hodgson, which is not bad considering they've only scored twice.

It all starts with keeping clean sheets for the former England boss, as all five of those points have been won thanks to stopping the opposition from scoring - as they managed to do at Old Trafford in a 0-0 draw with Man Utd last time out.

Arsenal are in great form after three straight wins and Arteta's side have in fact won seven out of nine since losing at Everton in December.

Their last five games have all been tight affairs with only ever one goal deciding them either way, with only Burnley stopping them scoring in that stretch.

Watford and Arsenal players in form

Emmanuel Dennis is perhaps the only Watford player you could describe as having any kind of form. With nine goals this season he's scored in all five of their Premier League wins, including their last one at Aston Villa.

Emile Smith Rowe is always worth watching, as Arsenal's top scorer with nine in the league this season. He's struggled with injuries and illness of late but scored in his last start against Brentford.

Last three matches

Arsenal 1-0 Watford (November 7, 2021)

Bukayo Saka had an early goal ruled out by VAR for offside after just seven minutes, and it got worse for Arsenal as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a penalty after 36 minutes.

Frustration was growing at half-time, but after the break Emile Smith Rowe broke the deadlock, and the Gunners held on to a narrow victory.

Arsenal 3-2 Watford (July 26, 2020)

The final game of this Covid-hit season saw Watford suffer relegation in heartbreaking fashion after an eventful defeat at the Emirates coupled with Aston Villa grabbing a draw to stay up by the skin of their teeth.

Watford tried their best after falling 3-0 behind to the Gunners thanks to goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2) and Kieran Tierney.

The Hornets looked dead and buried but despite replies from Troy Deeney and Danny Welbeck, the Gunners held on.

Watford 2-2 Arsenal (September 15, 2019)

The Gunners burst into a 2-0 lead thanks to a brace from Aubameyang inside the first half-hour, but Watford again came roaring back.

Tom Cleverley pulled one back just eight minutes after the break and there was late drama as Ricardo Pereyra slotted home an 81st-minute penalty to bag a point for the hosts.

Last 10 matches

Watford wins: 2

Draws: 1

Arsenal wins: 7

Arsenal scored: 21

Watford scored: 9

Managers' thoughts

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on 74-year-old Roy Hodgson: "It's just incredible how long he's been around and how he's managed to balance his life. He looks healthy, he looks good, he's a person that I really admire."

On the top four: "I think it's positive because that's where we want to be playing. The reality is we are not fourth but sixth still. We know what we have to do and the only aim is to win against Watford."

Watford vs Arsenal teams

Watford will be without Ismaila Sarr who picked up a hamstring problem during last weekend's 0-0 draw at Manchester United. He joins defender William Troost-Ekong, who has sustained a similar injury, on the sidelines.

Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a doubt for Arsenal. The Japan full-back has been struggling with calf injuries in recent weeks and could miss out once again.

Emile Smith Rowe is available having missed the win over Wolves through illness.

Possible Watford starting line-up: Foster; Ngakia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara; Cleverley, Sissoko, Louza; Pedro, Dennis, King

Possible Arsenal starting line-up: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Lacazette

Watford vs Arsenal prediction

We've seen this script before from Roy Hodgson and it will be more of the same, packing the defence, staying narrow and well-drilled defensively to frustrate Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta's side have been getting results against similar teams though and edging tight games, and they should have enough in hand to do the same again, but just don't expect too many goals.