Arsenal vs Watford: Arteta’s Lacazette & Odegaard selection call

As Arsenal prepare to take on Watford in the Premier League on Sunday there is one selection decision that has been doing the rounds.

Nuno Tavares’ impressive displays against Aston Villa and Leicester have prompted talk over whether he should retain his place in the starting lineup over Kieran Tierney, who Mikel Arteta is ‘hopeful’ will be fit in time for the weekend.

But aside from left-back, the other, less mentioned, selection call he may be pondering over is with Martin Odegaard.

Alexandre Lacazette has warranted his inclusion over the Norwegian ever since his inspired cameo off the bench against Crystal Palace. Another strong outing against Leicester where he once again ran out of steam having worked so hard on and off the ball further strengthened his case to stay in the team.

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Arsenal vs Watford: Arteta has a call to make on whether sticking with Alexandre Lacazette or bringing in the more creative Martin Odegaard

However, squads exist for a reason and certain games will call for certain personnel. While Lacazette was the spark Arsenal needed to salvaged a point against Palace and kick their unbeaten run into a new gear, Watford will pose a different proposition to the likes of Villa and Leicester.

Claudio Ranieri’s side will know keeping a clean sheet on Sunday will be imperative if they are to try and claim three points, let alone one, and it’s expected they will set up in their defensive 4-4-1-1 shape for this one.

Wanting to sit back in a low block and break with speed, the addition of Odegaard can give Arteta’s side the additional creative spark they may need to unpick the tightest of locks.

If it’s based on form and form alone, then Lacazette gets the nod. However, in a match where the hosts are expected to dominate possession – the Hornets have recorded the fourth lowest average possession (41.6%) of any side in the Premier League – someone of the Norwegian’s craft could prove to be a useful tool.

Lacazette adds battling qualities that the summer arrival doesn’t: he’s physical, a bit of a sh*thouse and gets in peoples’ faces. What he isn’t, though, is someone who can pick a pass others don’t see either through lines or over defences, and if there was a time to reintroduce Odegaard into the team then Sunday may be a suitable occasion.

Meritocracy exists, or at least it should, but having spent £30m on the Norway captain to specifically add creative nous in central areas, there is at least a decision to make on whether his brief time out of the team should come to an end this weekend.