Arsenal go north from the Emirates to visit Vicarage Road in Watford this evening, and it is very difficult to know what to expect from the home side. The Hornets have only scored 6 goals so far this season, but have also only conceded 7, which is the same as Arsenal. So I guess we can assume that Quique Flores’ side are pretty hot defensively.
The Arsenal boss recognises that this is far from a straightforward fixture and is aware that Arsenal will have to be careful against an ‘efficient’ Watford. “What is really surprising is how few goals they have conceded,” said Wenger. “They have a very good defensive record and they are very difficult for everybody so we know that is in front of us.
“It is basically a team who have been very efficient offensively, they have been very efficient defensively, so it will be very interesting game.
“They defend very well and are very well organised, that is the task we have in front of us.”
Arsenal have scored eight goals in their last two League matches, but the fact is that both Leicester and Man United are attacking teams that gave us the room to counter-attack quickly. We can not expect the same sort of play from Watford, and they may well use park-the-bus tactics.
But they also have the ability to score through Odion Ighalo, who has scored 5 of their 7 goals and is in great form.. Wenger will hopefully hae prepared a plan to stop the Nigerian hitman. “He has been a huge surprise as who knew him? Not many people knew him before the Premier League started and to score five goals in eight games you need to have special qualities, no matter who you play for,” Le Prof said.
“We will be confronted by that fact and we will have to produce a quality defensive performance but away from home we have done very well until now.
“Apart from the game against Chelsea which was under very special circumstances, we have done extremely well away from home.”
I believe Arsenal play with more freedom away from home, which may because the home sides generally play to win, whereas at he Emirates they are more likely to be happy with a 0-0 draw. So let’s hope that Watford try and attack as I’m sure we’ll score bucketloads on the counter.
Onwards and Upwards!