Arsenal - Match Preview

Last updated : 13 October 2006 By Gary Holmes

History of the Arsenal v Watford fixture

Watford travel to take on Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, hoping to improve upon a pretty good return from this fixture. Of the 10 games played, the Golden Boys have recorded four wins, and Arsenal have come away with five victories.

The last time the two teams met at Arsenal was back in September 1999, over five years ago, the Gunners carving out a narrow one goal victory in a Premiership match.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here

Recent encounters between the teams:

2001/2002

Sat 05 Jan

Watford

2 - 4

Arsenal

FAC

1999/2000

Sun 23 Apr

Watford

2 - 3

Arsenal

PREM

1999/2000

Sat 25 Sep

Arsenal

1 - 0

Watford

PREM

1987/1988

Fri 15 Apr

Arsenal

0 - 1

Watford

PREM

1987/1988

Sat 28 Nov

Watford

2 - 0

Arsenal

PREM

1986/1987

Sat 21 Mar

Watford

2 - 0

Arsenal

PREM

1986/1987

Sat 14 Mar

Arsenal

1 - 3

Watford

FAC


Recent respective form guides

Arsenal are in decent form at home, having won four and drawn two of their last six games, These high-scoring games have yielded a total of 13 goals for the Gunners, with five against.

Watford has an average recent record on the road, with two wins, two draws, and two defeats. The Golden Boys has a narrow positive goal difference over these games with 8 goals for and six against.

Arsenal's 11 points from 6 games sees them lie inside the top half of the table, in 8th position. Watford is stuck down in the relegation zone of the Barclays Premiership with a return of just 4 points from their 7 games thus far.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here

Current form guides:

P

W

D

L

F

A

P

Arsenal

6

5

1

0

11

3

16

Watford

6

0

4

2

5

7

4


FootyMad's Prediction...

An extremely difficult away game for Aidy Boothroyd and his men, but this could be the best time to play the Gunners. Almost all of their players played in internationals in midweek and with an important Champions League cup tie in Moscow against CSKA Moscow coming up next Tuesday the North London giants may just take their eye off the ball.

If Watford can keep it tight until the second half they have a chance, but if they fail behind early the hosts could end up with a comfortable home win. Being the eternal optimist I am tipping a score draw. Score Draw

Sequence statistics:

Arsenal

Unbeaten in the last 5 home games.
Won their latest 5 matches.
Not drawn a match in their last 5 .

Watford

Not won in previous 3 away matches.
Drawn each of the last 4 games.
No win in the 8 most recent games.