Club football is back, as Arsenal face Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday in the Gunners’ eighth match of the season.
After a poor August, Arsenal picked themselves up in September, and haven’t conceded a single league goal in the month and a half since that trip to Anfield before transfer deadline day.
There have been league wins against Brighton, West Brom and Bournemouth, as well as a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and an 100% record in three matches in the League Cup and Europa League. All of which leaves Gunners supporters quietly optimistic of avoiding relegation in the current campaign.
So, now that the international break is done for this month (yes, there is another one in November), Arsenal travel to Watford to hopefully keep the good feeling going.
The Opposition
Watford have made a good start to their league campaign, and sit just one point behind the Gunners in eighth. Only Burnley and the big six are doing better than the Hornets so far.
Arsenal are the third team from that big six to travel to Vicarage Road, with Watford scoring late to grab a 3-3 draw against Liverpool, before losing 6-0 to Manchester City. So, if those results are anything to go by, we should be in for six goals one way or another.
In their last five against all opposition Watford have two wins, two draws and one loss. Not amazing, but also not bad. (Hear more about Watford on this week’s podcast, featuring Watford expert, Paul Muzzy)
In terms of the head-to-head record, Arsenal have won all but two of the last 10 matches between the sides, stretching back to 1999. Those two Watford wins came in the last four games, so there’s something for the Gunners to be wary about, although both were at the Emirates.
The last time Watford avoided a loss at home to Arsenal was in 1987.