Arsenal Vs Watford: Top four awaits

Arsenal travel to Watford on Monday night in a crucial Premier League contest. Win at Vicarage Rd and a top-four finish awaits the Gunners.

For Arsenal, the target in the Premier League has always been the same: finish in the top four. Whether that was a realistic aim at the start of the year or not, no one really knew. But Unai Emery, in his first season at the helm, was tasked with resurrecting the team from the latter years of the Arsene Wenger tenure. And getting back into the Champions League was the first step on the road to recovery.

Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Napoli brilliance; top four chances

With an extended break during late-March, there was time to take stock of the season. And at that point, the Gunners were in an excellent position to reclaim a top-four place. Coming off a win against Manchester United in the league, they were seen as the favourites for potentially a third-placed finish.

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And upon the return of the Premier League after the international break, a home win over Newcastle put the team in an ideal situation to finish the season well. But then Sunday happened. An awkward trip to Goodison Park. Pressure knowing that a victory would be another step towards the ultimate goal. Capitulation. Not only did Arsenal lose the match, but they utterly crumbled in the process, putting in one of their worst performances of the season.

Now, a week later, after wins for Chelsea and Spurs, the picture is far more unclear. Prior to this weekend’s fixtures, Arsenal sit in fifth position. They are two points clear of Manchester United, who are not completely out of the top-four race just yet, one point behind Spurs, and three points behind Chelsea, though they have a game-in-hand on the latter. They have a better goal difference than United and Chelsea but are one behind Spurs.

You do not need me to tell you that it is an extremely tight picture indeed. And so, this brings me to Monday night’s trip to Vicarage Rd to face a Watford side that have just squeezed into the FA Cup final.

In the final six matches of the year, Arsenal have four away games. As everyone knows, that is not a good thing. Watford is one of those away matches — Wolves, Leicester City and Burnley are the others. It is likely that three wins from those four games are required to secure a top-four finish. Losing at Watford could be catastrophic.

Conversely, win and Emery’s team are on the cusp of the top four. Yes, they still have to finish off the season well. But the extra three points along with shedding the moniker of struggling away from home would set them up perfectly for the run-in. Chelsea travel to Liverpool. Next week, Spurs face Manchester City. Chelsea and Manchester United still have to play each other. And there is also a Manchester derby to come as well.

What a position it would be for Arsenal to be in if they can win on Monday. I believe that if they beat Watford, they will finish in the top four. Sadly, though, that if is a big one.