Arsenal hope to keep the chase and correct FA cup defeat to Watford.
Team news
Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech could return after missing the last five games with a calf problem, but Arsene Wenger has confirmed Jack Wilshere (leg) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) will not be involved despite returning to training.
Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) also remain absent.
Watford, meanwhile, have no fresh injury or suspension worries and welcomed back their international contingent unscathed. Joel Ekstrand, having only recently returned from a serious knee injury, is unlikely to feature despite playing 75 minutes of a Watford Under-21 game over the Easter break.
Stats
- Arsenal had won the previous six meetings with Watford before a 2-1 defeat in the FA Cup quarter-final last month.
- The Hornets scored with their only two shots on target in that victory at Emirates Stadium.
- Watford have not won twice against Arsenal in the same season (all comps) since 1987-88 – and they have never won away against the Gunners twice in a season (all comps).
- Watford and Arsenal have met 17 times in the league in total, with both sides winning eight times and the other game ending in a draw.
- Arsenal have scored just six goals in their last eight home games in all competitions, averaging 25 shots for each goal scored. They have averaged nine shots faced for each goal conceded.
- Arsenal have led at half-time in none of their last 10 matches in all competitions at Emirates Stadium.
- Watford have won just one of their last six Premier League away games (W1 D1 L4) and failed to score in four of the last five.
- 23 of Watford’s 30 Premier League goals this season have either been scored by Odion Ighalo or Troy Deeney (77%).
- Watford have recovered just two points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, the fewest in the division.
- Only Crystal Palace (2) have collected fewer points from Premier League games in 2016 than Watford (8).
