Arsenal v Watford Build-up & Predicted score as opponents fight to survive drop

Arsenal will welcome Watford to the Emirates this afternoon in the final matchday weekend of the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta will more than likely take the opportunity to rest some of his key players today, with one eye on the cup final against Chelsea next Saturday, but Watford have no such luxury.

The Hornets come into the match in the drop zone, level on points with Aston Villa who sit just outside it.

The Villains of course beat us during the week to seal our fate of finishing outside the European places, while seeing their side escape the bottom three of the division for the first time since February.

Their fate should be a fight to the finish, and should both sides win, Bournemouth would need to win by two more goals than Villa in order to climb to safety.

More interestingly, Bournemouth trail the pair by three points, and any win for them paired with losses for both of the above would see them saved in dramatic fashion, and they travel to Everton, who have little to pay for today.

While our team has little to play for going into today’s tie, I do expect some younger players to be given the chance to impress, and those players will be wanting to impress the boss in hope of earning a more regular role going into the new season, so I wouldn’t be expecting too much of an easy ride.

One player who may get the nod to start is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who currently sits three goals off of the Golden Boot leader Jamie Vardy, and a hat-trick for our goalscorer is never impossible.

With our opponents very much needing the points, and Aubameyang very much needing the goals, I can see this being a goalfest, and even against a rotated side I can see us coming out on top. I’ll go with a 3-2 victory for our boys, hopefully with Aubameyang matching Vardy’s tally before the end of the day.

Which players would you expect to get the chance to play today? Will Arteta be ringing major changes ahead of the FA Cup?

Patrick

Tags arsenal v watford Watford

8 Comments

  1. If we win today and those above us lose we can get to 8th from 10th and I think make another £3.5 million on League position prize money. Pride and money to play for.
    A hat trick for Auba would be amazing Patrick but I can’t really see it happening.

  2. Little to play for? Here’s ABC of why we indeed have tons to play for:

    a. How about playing for a bit of honour? You seem to suggest we cry “tired legs” and play the kids +Auba. Since when is being a team to be reckoned with a the Emirates “little to play for”? (especially on the backdrop of 19/20 season)

    b. Moving up the table one or two positions is equal to more income, might I remind you we need every penny we can get?

    c. FA-Cup final is a week away = plenty of time to recover. If we play the kids today, some players will not have played football for 2 weeks by time of the final, and some for 1 and a half week. Do you consider that a good prep for a final? Rather play the best, let Özil rest, and use the very best players in this match to prepare for performing well in the final truly is something worth playing for?.

    1. Rob, Well said on a properly thought through and sensible reply! How very much I appreciate the few proper thinkers on here and wish there were more like you.

  3. The only thing to play for is our pride and a good preparation for the Fa cup final.What a relief the season is finally over.Not a season to remember even though it can still end on a high.

  4. Sorry to put a downer on it but I don’t see a good result happening today. I see a difficult game against a team scrapping for survival. We need to rest players which, I think MA will do. This team has been lousy away from home (our worst in modern history). I’m actually going not going to waste my time watching it today. I’m going to have fun instead!

    1. I can’t say I blame you, GunneRay… I was all excited over Tuesday – and what a load of crap that turned out to be!! 90 minutes I’ll never get back 😖 Me, I’m a glutton for punishment… I’ll be glued to it 😄😄

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