Arsenal vs Watford: Why three points have extra importance

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal side face Watford at the Emirates Stadium in a match that perhaps has a little more significance than what appears. Coming into this clash, Arteta has flipped the script with the Gunners and has them playing some seriously good football.

In the last nine games, Arsenal has been one of the form teams in the league: winning seven games, drawing two, scoring 17 goals, and conceding just four. And with the visiting Watford side languishing in 16th and are coming off a 1-0 home loss to Southampton, a chance to take advantage awaits.

What is crucial about this fixture is that Arsenal is expected to get the three points. They’re at home, clearly have the better players and are in far better form. A win is essential, partly considering the international break follows after this weekend.

Clubs do not want to go into a break off the back of a bad performance or a loss and in Arsenal’s case it presents a great opportunity to consolidate their recent good form. Looking ahead, once the international break is over, Arsenal has their biggest test of the season: Liverpool at Anfield.

Arsenal vs Watford: Three points are vitally important for Mikel Arteta’s side with Liverpool at Anfield next up in the Premier League

It is essentially a free hit. Realistically, not many people have given them a chance to come away with a positive result – nobody heads to the red half of Merseyside as favourites. That is why a win over Watford is crucial. Bank the three points, be in a good frame of mind, and have two weeks to prepare for the Liverpool game. Then give it one almighty crack.

Arsenal has an unfortunate knack of throwing away an opportunity that presents itself, like the one now, where there is a chance to potentially get into the top four albeit briefly. This can’t happen against the Hornets.

With the Manchester derby taking place and Liverpool away for a resurgent West Ham, should results go the Gunners’ way at the weekend, Arsenal could very well only be outside the top four on goal difference. Who would have thought?

Arsenal simply has to get three points at the Emirates. Start well and put the visitors on the back foot. And, crucially, get an early goal to force the game onto the opponent. Watford is there for the taking and given the kind of form Arsenal are currently in, as well as Liverpool looming large after the international break, every step forward has to be grasped.

With players like Benjamin White not included in their national squads, Arteta is going to have key figures available to be able to develop a game plan to try and go to Anfield and achieve a positive result.

With only Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka on the injury list, although the Scottish international is being assessed ahead of Sunday’s game, it will be a full-strength Arsenal side put out by Arteta and a victory should follow.

It is simply a must-win and there is nothing else to it. A chance to improve on the already impressive momentum that has been gradually building over the last two months and match the manager’s best unbeaten streak on his 100th game in charge. Arsenal faces Newcastle and Manchester United in the games following Liverpool, hence why a Premier League win over Watford is ever so critical.

Should Arsenal lose to Liverpool, which many expect, the points will already be in the bank and Arteta will not have the pressure to try and achieve a positive result where so few have been able to. This is a Reds side on their own unbeaten run, a cool 25 games.

The club has taken some impressive strides over the last two months, therefore the last thing they would want is to let themselves down at the most inopportune time. They have clawed back up the table after the horrific start and now it is about consistency in performance and winning games they should be. They have shown it can be done, but with Watford, they have to go again.