This coming Saturday sees the first visit of one the supposed big 4 to Vicarage Road. Arsenal arrive on the back of two excellent results. The 5-2 win at the surprise package Leicester City announced the return to goal scoring form of, ex Udinese player, Alexis Sanchez. They followed this up with a 20 minute burst against Man United that any side in the world would have struggled to cope with. Sanchez was again the star performer but Watford target Walcott has also been in decent scoring form. Their struggles in Europe may actually be a blessing for the under achieving Gunners who bar a couple of Cup final wins against poor opposition have not won anything worthwhile in 10+ years, something that appears to go completely unnoticed by the board at The Emirates. A club like Arsenal should be challenging for bigger things than the F.A Cup and it seem mildly surprising that Arsene Wenger is still there even with his history taken in to account. It's no question that this is our hardest challenge yet at Vicarage Road and their return to hitting the back of the net on a regular basis only adds to the problems we may encounter. Walcott and Sanchez, who surely must owe The Pozzo's a favour, have already been mentioned but there are plenty of others to keep an eye out for. Cazorla makes Arsenal tick and much like Silva at Man City if we can keep him quiet we will have an easier afternoon, easier but certainly not easy. The other one to watch out for would Ramsey who will be on a high after Wales qualified for the Euros last week. He has a very handy knack of appearing un marked in the penalty area and his finishing is better than their strikers! Their defence is the weakness but sadly our forward play is likewise at the moment. We need to put players like Mertesacker under pressure but this has to be on the floor. He has the turning circle of Iwelumo but put it in the air and we will get no where. Bellerin should be one of the others to put under pressure. A good player, something we witnessed here a few years back, but he is young and although he's good going forward, especially with his pace, his defensive positioning does some time let him down. It's going to be tough, no question but one thing we have showed so far is that we don't look out of place that we have done in previous years and we look like we belong. Our defence is the joint best in the league and although we don't score a lot of goals currently the fact we don't concede many will always keep us in with a chance and if we can defend well I certainly wouldn't rule out nicking a win out of this. Team news Too early to say until after both sides players report back after the international games so will update later in the week History Oh how I loved playing Arsenal in the eighties. I have no idea why, but we always seemed to beat them during our six year tenure in the old 1st division. We never played them in any proper competition before our first year in the top flight, 1982/83. Much like today, we were not give an earthly as we headed to Highbury but if they had much of a scouting network back then they really didn't do their job as we tore them a knew one and won 4-2. This was just the start of an incredible run of results in those 6 years where we won 9 out of 13 games including two wins in 2 days (imagine how much Wenger would bleat if that happened now!) and possibly the best away performance I have ever witnessed. I know this game was at Highbury but still love it so sod it's in! [video=youtube;3VYVblXjogg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VYVblXjogg[/video] In more recent years of course things have evened themselves out and Arsenal have won the last 5 league and cup games between the two sides. However, as I mentioned earlier, our last two seasons in the top league we've been no where near where needed to be to compete and to beat the best sides you need to be much better than we were. We are now though! Wherever you watch or listen to the game, enjoy it, it's one of the games you want to be in the Premier League for. COYGB
Just want to get this game out the way and move onto to Stoke where we can realistically target 3 points. Upsets happen pretty regularily in English football, so not writing us off , but Id be happy with a one goal defeat and a decent performance. Its how we perform against the bottom two thirds of the table that will decide our season.
One of those games we could pull off a shock, if Arsenal get their plan and setup right they could also give us a schooling. Early Watford goal and then frustrate them and look to hit them on the break.
Really don't care about this game - hopefully he rests anyone with any slightly injuries/fitness issues, need them to be fit for Stoke. Will take a 0-1 or 0-2 loss and be content.
I strongly dislike Arsenal. I've disliked them strongly for many, many years. There are lots of things in life that can be forgiven. Where the disgust and outrage can dim with time. Where you can let bygones be bygones. But when it comes to things like Steve "Winker" Williams and little ginger dive artist Pewwy Gwoves and that horrible mouthy centre back oaf that wore a headband. Or was that Williams as well? I can't remember. It all blurs into one little hard grizzled knot of enduring dislike for every man jack whinging, complaining, hand in the air, gooner of 'em. Never met a good 'un. Never. I hope they lose every game they play* * With the obvious single solitary exception of if they're playing L*t*n.
Arsenal hoover up practically all the local talent and they impinge on our fanbase more than any other club. What's more to hate?
I think this will be another defensive show as it was at City, what people forget is the third best chance of that game was Anya's despite it not even registering as an attempt. For Arsenal's visit I'd say goals will be scarce and although we should expect a narrow defeat, with a little luck I won't rule out a draw ... or even a win if we can lock them out and grab one on the break.
Arsenal thread ? Come on guys, it's Wednesday already. Get yer act together. I'd do it myself but unfortunately I'm chronically lazy.
Maybe they will rest a few players given the Bayern Munich game is next week... I'd take a point though!
Currently stitching the nippers half and half scarf as we speak * I let him support The Arse as the ground is 5 mins down the road , and I don't have the heart to send him into a school playground full of Arsenal shirts when he's dressed in his Watford shirt looking like a giant bumble bee. Give it 3 years and we re playing in Europe, then I'll put my foot down. * not really , I can't stand the things .
The only trouble with us being in The Prem is that there are some games where the very best you can hope for is to avoid a pummeling. IMHO we will survive & flourish in this league but games like this are very hard to look forward to.
Yea it's true. Somehow I still like Arsene's Arsenal though. They really do play football in the right way.
He has a point thought, their Champions League chances are in a precarious state, I can see them prioritising that match over us simply because no doubt some amongst Arsenal will think it's an easy 3 points.
FIFA Predicts... Gomes; Nyom, Pr*dl, Cathcart, Ake; Behrami, Capoue; Abdi, Deeney, Anya; Ighalo Arlauskis, Britos, Parades, Guedioura, Ibarbo, Diamanti, Dyer Watford 0 - 1 Arsenal 84' - GOAL - Giroud - Ramsey cuts into the box from the wing and pulls it back for Giroud to finesse the ball into the right side of the goal Watford substitutions: 13' Ighalo off/Diamanti on 45' Anya off/Guedioura on Man of the match: Per Mertesacker Odds: Giroud FGS and 0-1 @28/1 P9 W1 D2 L6 PTS5 GF4 GA12 GD-8 We would be 17th in the table Top scorers: Capoue (2) Deeney (1) Diamanti (1) Most assists: Jurado (2) Behrami (1) Watson (1)
I was going to look to my current local team, Reading, for inspiration. Unfortunately it turns out they have lost all 13 games they've played against Arsenal dating back to 1935. Our W9 D1 L9 since 1980 looks inspired in comparison, and caught me by surprise if I'm honest.
They played the game the right way ten years ago, but then football moved on and Wenger's arrogance didn't take any notice. I really hope we show some assertiveness and cojones in this match. Arsenal are there for the taking for any team that has their s**t together, as demonstrated by their frequent losses to teams they are much superior to. Dinamo Zagreb manager sums it up nicely: "Arsenal is one of the best teams who ever played here and they did exactly what we agreed they would do,' said Mamic. 'We thought it would be very important to close the middle, to stop the fast passes. 'That's what we did and it's nothing new. We have already seen other teams who beat Arsenal use the same tactics. This is a good way to beat them." I really hope Flores doesn't just park it.
Looking forward to watching Capoue make a brutal challenge on Ozil in the opening seconds to 'make his mark'.
