Watford v Arsenal Betting Preview 15/09/2019
Javi Gracia hasn’t won much over the last few months, but it’s quite a big sell to try and tell him that he did at least win the sack race. The Spaniard became the first Premier League manager to lose their job this season when Watford decided that they needed a change.
Watford have a reputation for being ruthless with their managers. Quique Sanchez Flores found that out the hard way and was not a happy man when informed that he would not be carrying on past the 2015/16 season.
Time is a great healer though and Sanchez Flores put the past behind him to make a return to Vicarage Road. He was popular with the Watford fans who are hopeful he can reinvigorate the team starting with Sunday’s match against Arsenal.
No Happy Return for Sanchez Flores
Arsenal had serious problems away from home last season. For that reason, Unai Emery was absolutely delighted that his team wasted no time in getting off the mark on the road with victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park in their first match of the new campaign.
Their defensive problems of old reared their head again during the trip to Anfield but Arsenal are the bookies’ favourites to win at Vicarage Road.
In some ways, this isn’t really an away game. Vicarage Road is very close to Arsenal’s London Colney training ground so there is no long trip to deal with. Arsenal will have to cope with over 18,000 re-energised Watford fans but when it comes to the players on the pitch there is no doubt that the Gunners are the stronger side.
Arsenal’s away day troubles have seen their price inflated with the bookies, and we think the 21/20 that BetVictor are quoting is well worth taking.
Arsenal Will Need to Score More Than Once
Although Arsenal have the quality to win this match we don’t foresee them keeping a clean sheet. The win over Newcastle is the only time Bernd Leno has gone without having to pick the ball out of his net and with players keen to impress their new manager, Watford should be able to score.
That makes a bet on both teams to score look a fairly safe play at a best price of 8/15 with Betfred.
Arsenal’s defensive problems and the amount of attacking quality available to Sanchez Flores suggests that the home fans will have something to cheer about. The problem is that their defence just isn’t playing well enough to cope with the players they’ll face on Sunday.
The loss of Alexandre Lacazette until October is a blow to Arsenal as it would be to any team, but they certainly have plenty of players capable of stepping up and scoring goals in his absence.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the man the bookies think is most likely to score Arsenal’s opening goal, but we fancy Nicolas Pepe to open his account for the Gunners. The winger has been eased into life with the Gunners and already looks every inch the Premier League player.
Pepe has contributed a couple of assists and now is the time for him to step up and score. We fancy him to do just that by scoring the first goal at 7/1 with bet365.
Betting Tips
Arsenal to win at 21/10 with BetVictor
Both teams to score at 8/15 with Betfred
Nicolas Pepe to score first at 7/1 with bet365
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