Arsenal vs Watford Odds: Best bets from Joshua Jones at the Emirates

Super Sunday sees Arsenal welcome Watford to the Emirates Stadium, as they look to continue their hugely impressive run of recent form. It feels like Mikel Arteta is finally getting it right at Arsenal, and the results have certainly followed.

The Gunners are unbeaten in nine games in all competitions, and have propelled themselves out of the relegation zone and up to 6th in the Premier League table during that run.

Their 2-0 victory over Leicester last weekend, thanks to goals from Gabriel Magalhães and Emile Smith-Rowe, means that they’re now on their longest unbeaten run since January 2020 which should bode well against a Watford side with one win in their last six games in all competitions.

Hornets fans are used to the rollercoaster that is their ownership, and the managerial merry-go-round they consistently find themselves on has probably put fun-fairs in the town out of business.

Last month, Claudio Ranieri became the 15th different manager to take charge of a Watford game since the Pozzo family bought the club nine years ago, and it’s already been a wild ride.

His first game at the helm was a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool in which his players looked lost, wholesale changes came and resulted in a 5-2 thrashing of Liverpool’s neighbours Everton the following week. Most recently, they were beaten 1-0 at home by a Southampton side that were widely tipped for relegation at the start of the season.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have been much more predictable of late - as they continue their steady climb up the Premier League table.

The Gunners have won seven of their nine unbeaten games since a drubbing at the hands of Manchester City and their rise is being driven by young talent.

Emile Smith-Rowe in particular, who was unlucky not to receive an England call-up on Thursday, has been in magnificent form and has formed a wonderful partnership with compatriot Bukayo Saka - who will be heading to join up with the rest of the England squad next week.

The pair have played the most and 3rd most Premier League minutes, respectively, among all Arsenal players so far this season which is a testament to how much the Spaniard trusts them in his system. They’ve repaid his faith too, delivering eight goals and assists between them already this year.

If the Gunners are to extend their unbeaten run they’ll have to do so without Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka, whose MCL injury looks likely to keep him out of the side beyond Christmas.

There are also question marks over the fitness of left-back Kieran Tierney, who’s been out with an ankle/foot injury, so we may see Nuno Tevares handed a third consecutive Premier League start.

Watford have injury concerns of their own though, with long-term absentees Peter Etebo and Christian Kabasele still sidelined.

There are fitness concerns about defensive duo Kiko Femenia and Francisco Sierralta, though they should be able to welcome forward Emmanuel Dennis back into the side following his enforced absence through suspension.

Smith-Rowe has been delivering for his manager all season and he delivered for us last week with a first half shot on target against Leicester. He’s been so reliable for this play this year no matter where on the field he’s lined up, registering a shot on goal in nine of his 10 Premier League appearances.

This price has blown my mind. Not only is the Nigerian the most booked player in the league so far this season, he’s also made the most fouls in the league so far this season. He has picked up five yellow cards in his last seven starts, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pick up another here from a referee that's handed out 17 bookings in his 3 top flight fixtures this year.

With question marks over Kieran Tierney’s fitness, I like his replacement to pick up a card too.

Not only does he average more fouls per 90 than any player in the Arsenal squad, but he’ll be going toe-to-toe with the most fouled player in the Premier League.

Watford right-winger Ismailia Sarr has been fouled on 29 separate occasions already this season, and now he’s up against a player that has averaged 0.42 yellows per 90 and 3.13 fouls per 90 over the last two seasons.