Arsenal vs Watford predicted XI: Nothing to it but to do it

Arsenal’s last Premier League match of the season comes against Watford, and with little to play for but Watford’s fate, here is how they could line up.

Arsenal‘s beleaguering Premier League season is finally coming to an end with the “grand” finale against Watford. With the Gunners help in losing to Aston Villa, we now have the privilege of determining the fate of the Harts. If we beat them, there’s very little chance of them surviving.

So anyone who says there’s nothing to play for is full of it. We can relegate Watford, there aren’t many joys greater than that.

This is also Mikel Arteta‘s chance to stamp his new era on the season. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but a good old-fashioned blowout would be quite nice to end the season on, especially seeing as how we are coming off a really disheartening loss to Aston Villa.

But whatever ends up happening, it starts with the starting XI, and it’s going to be an interesting one. With the FA Cup Final a full week away, there’s no real need to rest anyone, though depending on Arteta’s plans for the future, he may go with a more youth heavy team if he’s expecting to lose some of the more senior players.

My eyes are primarily drawn up top to the striker situation and if he opts for Alexandre Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah. Without wanting to read into it too much, it could be a statement decision hinting at the future of the striker position.

We don’t yet know what Lacazette’s future holds, but Nketiah’s is pretty clear.

On the injury side of things, there’s nothing much new. Reiss Nelson has to be assessed and Shkodran Mustafi is out, but other than that, it’s the same old, same old.

So let’s dig into the starting XI. No reason not to expect a 3-4-3, so let’s start in goal like always.

Keeper

Emiliano Martinez will cap off an impressive run in the starting XI with what will undoubtedly be another impressive performance. The big question is when we will see him in this capacity again for Arsenal, if we will see it again.

So enjoy it while you can.

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