Watford vs Arsenal
Premier League 2018-19
Venue: Vicarage Road
Date: Monday, April 15, 2019
Kick-off time: 8:00pm GMT
Arsenal will attempt to bounce back from their woeful defeat at Everton and stay in the thick of the crowded race for a top-four finish as they return to Premier League action against Watford on Monday night.
The Gunners - who had been unbeaten in the league since February - were enjoying a three-match winning streak before slumping to a 1-0 loss at Goodison Park - a result that, combined with Chelsea's subsequent win over West Ham, saw them lose their grip on the final Champions League qualification spot.
Unai Emery's side returned to form with a dominant Europa League quarter-final first-leg victory over Napoli on Thursday and now come up against a Watford team riding high after reaching their first FA Cup final since 1984 with a thrilling extra-time comeback win over Wolves at Wembley.
The Hornets, currently 10th with games in hand, are battling with the likes of Everton, Leicester, Wolves and West Ham for 'the best of the rest' title and a seventh-place finish.
Watford vs Arsenal team news and predicted line-ups
Watford will be without Jose Holebas (hamstring), Domingos Quina (shoulder) and Tom Cleverley (calf) for this one, but Gerard Deulofeu is fit to feature after being taken off in the aftermath of his two-goal Wembley heroics.
Kiko Femenia, Isaac Success and Adalberto Peñaranda are also doubtful.
Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina, Hughes, Doucoure, Capoue, Pereyra, Deulofeu, Deeney
Arsenal will assess Granit Xhaka as the Swiss midfielder battles a groin strain.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos begins a two-match domestic suspension after he collected his 10th yellow card of the season on Merseyside, while long-term absentees Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck are all still out.
Arsenal XI: Leno, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Torreira, Kolasinac, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, Lacazette
Score prediction: Watford 1-1 Arsenal
Monday's game sees two good friends and former team-mates - Javi Gracia and Unai Emery - pit their wits against one another for the second time in English football.
Watford are enjoying a terrific season and will still be basking in the glow of their semi-final win, while Arsenal are yet to keep an away clean sheet in the Premier League this season.
Providing it does not turn out to be all a bit 'after the Lord Mayor's Show', the hosts should be able to bag a valuable point.
Watford vs Arsenal tickets
To check ticket availability, click here to head to Watford's website.
Arsenal have sold out their away allocation.
Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change
Match odds
- Watford to win: 11/5
- Arsenal to win: 13/10
- Draw: 27/10
First goal scorer
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 4/1
- Alexandre Lacazette: 5/1
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 13/2
- Andre Gray: 13/2
- Eddie Nketiah: 13/2
Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.
TV channel and live stream, and online coverage
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports' Premier League and Main Event channels, and is available via Now TV with a day pass on offer for £8.99.
Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via SkyGo and the SkyGo app.
You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.
Head to Head history and results (h2h)
This will be the 12th top-flight meeting between the sides in the Premier League era. Arsenal currently boast nine wins to Watford's two, with no draws.
In September, the Gunners won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium courtesy of a late Craig Cathcart own goal and side-footed effort from Mesut Ozil.
