Ahead of today’s clash with Arsenal, there is some updated team news from Watford’s perspective.

M’Baye Niang, who joined the club on a loan deal (with option to buy) for the remainder of the campaign is available for selection. The 22-year-old’s progress has been tracked in recent seasons with the player himself confirming interest from both Arsenal and Everton was present before he signed a new contract extension at AC Milan. Arsene Wenger also confirmed that the player was on trial with Arsenal before joining AC Milan in the first place.

He was unable to feature during their surprise 1-0 defeat at the hands of Millwall on Sunday as he had not yet received international clearance. This is no longer the case as confirmed by manager Walter Mazzarri.

As quoted by the club’s official website, “He is available. He will come with us, he hasn’t been training a lot with the team [but] is a player we can utilise. He has great qualities and it’s important he gets in a good environment,” Mazzarri stated.

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Niang (pictured, centre) in one of his first training sessions as a Watford player. (Picture source: Watford’s official website

Questions over the forward’s match sharpness means that he might only make the bench.

Mazzarri was full of praise for the highly-rated attacker when asked about what he offers to the team. “He has great running qualities, great technique and if he understands our mechanisms he can be a great player for us. He is perfect for the Premier League,” the Hornets boss said.

Costel Pantilimon, who has only made five appearances this term is injured.

Stretchered off on Sunday with a foot injury, Mazzarri has confirmed the goalkeeper is likely to be sidelined for the next couple of weeks.

Rene Gilmartin and Giedrius Arlauskis will both travel with the matchday squad to the Emirates, neither eager to pass up the opportunity to be Gomes’ understudy in the imposing Romanian’s absence.