The Ox will lead the charge for Arsenal's first win

Match Preview: Watford vs Arsenal - Premier League - 27.08.2016

To say that we've stumbled out of the blocks to start the season gives a bit too much credit to what it means to stumble out of blocks. Having taken just one point from two matches, one at home and one against a much-diminished Leicester, grim feelings are already setting in. Injuries are already amassing like an ominous storm-front, and rivals have been stockpiling talent like it's going out of style. Still, without slighting our weekend's hosts, there could be light enough at the end of the tunnel to see us out of the woods.

Sorry to mix metaphors. Then again, it's not as if Watford keep such things sorted at their end, either, what with a hart in the logo and a hornet for a nickname. Still, they're gotten out of the blocks in a parallel but much more-admirable fashion, earning a 1-1 draw at St. Mary's before suffering a controversial home-loss to Chelsea (how Diego Costa stays on the pitch continues to beggar belief...). At any rate, Walter Mazzarri seems to have set up his side to play some stubborn football, good enough to stifle Southampton and Chelsea, but not quite good enough to overcome League One Gillingham in the League Cup, having lost 1-2 on Tuesday. There may a few familiar faces in the Watford XI, be they former Spuds Heurelho Gomes or Younes Kaboul, one-time transfer-target Etienne Capoue, or FA Cup nemesis Troy Deeney. 

More importantly, Watford's likely 3-5-2 formation will seek to overload the midfield while inviting us to nibble around the edges of a narrow defense—something we do well without ever consummating anything. Expect to see a fair amount of intricate interplay along the edges of Watford's area without expecting final product. Then again, if the Ox gets some time on the wing, his liveliness and direct attack could expose that backline to all sorts of discombobulation. Ox has looked energetic, confident, and incisive of late; he's been one of the few bright spots in the early days of the season, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him either (a) carve open or (b) batter through Watford's defense to find a goal or two.

Despite our spate of injuries, then, it looks like we're ready to send out our strongest XI of the season. We'll need it after an indifferent, difficult start. We knew that hosting Liverpool and visiting Leicester would be dodgy at best. We also know that visiting Vicarage Road presents an opportunity to set things right and generate some momentum going forward. Those who have grumbled at the one point we've taken so far might be a bit too churlish too soon. A win on Saturday is, however, a must if we are to right this ship.

For what it's worth, Kevin Friend will officiate.

LAST 3 meetings

• Arsenal 4-0 Watford (04.02.2016)
• Arsenal 1-2 Watford (13.03.2016)
• Watford 0-3 Arsenal (17.10.2015)

FACTFILE

• Arsenal won all three of the matches that Kevin Friend officiated in 2015-16.
• Arsenal have won seven of their last eight matches against Watford across all competitions.
• The first time the two clubs clashed was on 27 November 1982, a 2-4 win to Watford.

INJURIES

Mertesacker, Gabriel, Welbeck, Jenkinson, Iwobi, and Ramsey have all been ruled out.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Čech; Monreal, Holding, Koscielny, Bellerín; Xhaka, Cazorla; Alexis, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud.

In what amounts to a must-win for Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain will lead the charge.

GOONERSPHERE PREDICTION

Watford 0-3 Arsenal.

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