Arsenal may have been doing a lot better of late in the Premier League, results wise especially without exactly dazzling on the pitch, so we have seen the Gunners rapidly climb the league table until only goal difference is keeping us out of the top four.
But we need to keep going and our match this weekend is certainly a potential banana skin. That may even be showing Watford a lack of respect because they are only one point worse off then Arsenal, so Arsene Wenger and the players need to take them seriously.
The question is, do Arsenal show the Hornets enough respect to change our own tactics or do we go there thinking that our normal game plan will be too much for them? Well you could point to there 6-0 loss at home to Man City a few weeks ago to suggest that they are not that solid defensively and that Arsenal should be confident of breaching their back line at least once.
They have also been scoring quite freely themselves though, so perhaps Wenger needs to have his team focused more than usual on not conceding, a bit like we did at Chelsea. What do you think Gooners? Go for it or be a bit more cautious?
Bob.
Off course Arsenal should be cautious. Because Watford have fast players that could hit Arsenal from a quick counterattack and tall players that could score from set pieces.
The 3-4-2-1 will prevent Watford from launching a fast counter in the wings. But Arsenal still need creative spark from Sanchez to unlock Watford’s defense, like his assist to Iwobi in the Brighton match.
Luckily Giroud is fit. He could help with his headers in set pieces, if Watford is too difficult to be broken from an open play.
Agree-
If we keep a clean sheet – feel very confident we’ll get comfortable win.
Whilst we rightly worry about counter-attack – reality is with a full team we probably have the fastest back line in EPL –
Also – we also should be one of the fastest attacks. So staying a little defensive is winning strategy
Watford are in great form, Arsenal haven’t won an away game yet, or even scored in one, so it’ll be tough. I think we should win it though. 1-2 Arsenal!
Our big problem is we concede far too much possession in the middle of the park, thus allowing opposing teams to run at our defence. We need a ball-winner who sits in front of the back 3 and is disciplined, will break up opposing play and distribute the ball accurately. We don’t play the ball out from the back, Cech usually pings long balls forward for wing backs to win and in doing this he often puts the ball out of play, giving possession away.
We waste too much possession when we do have the ball, without threatening in the final third, passing across the line or back to defenders. Play is often slow and cumbersome. When we speed it up and look for through balls behind defenders we look so much better.
We’re the best. It’s other teams that should adapt
That’s a big adaption to ask for, I don’t know if they can adapt to that way of thinking, it might make day night and black white.
We MUST respect ALL premier league teams. All are capable of beating us
We lost 4-0 to Liverpool and they aren’t the best in the league. They lost 5-0 to City after beating us. We lost to Stoke City and barely beat Leicester at home
That said if we play our best and Wenger gets the team selection right, we should win.
I’m very worried about our defense without Mustafi. Holding, Chambers, Kolsanic, Monreal will need to step up whoever is selected to play at the back.
There are no easy games in EPL as every team is capable of getting a result. Look at what Burnley, WBA, Watford have done so far. I wouldn’t even to Crystal Palace all cocky and confident because they are fighting for their survival. Having said that, we’re capable of beating anyone ourselves as long as we approach it the right way. First, no silly mistakes in the back/midfield (hear me, Xhaka?). I know we’ve got a few guys injured so I’d be somewhat hesitant to start Holding/Mertesacker/Monreal due to their lack of playing time together. Perhaps we should switch to the more familiar four in the back with Bellerin, Mertesacker, Monreal, Kolasinac. And if Koscielny is fit, he can start ahead of Mert since Watford pose a threat on counter attacks. Either way, the key here is not to get over confident, play the guys in their natural positions, and look to hurt them on set pieces, and counters ourselves. They let 3 goals against Pool, 6 against City so their defense is a bit shaky, so we have to take our chances.
I guess Wenger will use this XI:
………….Cech.
…Holding..Chambers..Monreal
Bellerin……………………Kolasinac
……….Ramsey..Xhaka.
…Ozil……………………Iwobi
…………Lacazette.
If Alexis is down for Chile’s failing to qualify WC…
Also maybe Elneny will pair with Xhaka and Ramsey would play for Ozil
Watford will have learned their lesson against city. They thought about winning that game and giving a good display, they wont be so quick to try the same with us. Allot of focus will be on the defence and conceding little time and space. Anyone who’s thinking sure city hit them for six so it should be easy enough, be warned, they’ll want to prove something those defenders. We have stuff to prove ourselves, we must not slip up before the teams ahead of us.