Arsenal are all but out of the title picture in the Premier League, needing numerous breaks to go their way if they’re going to become a major player again down the stretch. In order to take advantage of those breaks, however, they need to keep winning every game they can -- starting with this weekend’s visit from Watford.
Arsenal vs. Watford 2016 live stream: Start time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Arsenal still have a faint chance of getting back into the title race, but they need to start piling up wins now.
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The Hornets have fallen off rather significantly themselves over the last few months, with a long period of struggle seeing them drop from fighting for a top four spot to be rooted into the bottom half of the table. A win over Arsenal wouldn’t just effectively end the Gunners’ title hopes -- it would help provide a massive and needed boost to Watford’s squad, restoring their battered confidence and potentially sparking them on a run back up the table.
Key player -- Mesut Özil (Arsenal)
In recent weeks, Özil hasn’t been playing with the same ease and freedom that he displayed earlier in the season. With him trying to force matters instead of just taking the opportunities that he’s given in front of him, Arsenal’s attack has struggled, and their form along with it. They need to get Özil back to that same expressive, dominating version of himself that sparked the best run of Arsenal’s season, and they need him to get back to that form fast.
Key matchup -- Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) vs. Odion Ighalo (Watford)
Ighalo has surprisingly been one of the best strikers in the EPL this season, and if Arsenal are going to beat Watford then stopping him has to be their first priority. Fortuantely for them, Koscielny is healthy and in good form, giving them the ideal defensive weapon to keep the talented Nigerian in check. If he can get the job done on his own, it will make the job of stopping Watford much easier for the rest of his teammates, and make it much easier for them to get the three points they need.
Arsenal injuries and suspensions
Out: Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini, Santi Cazorla, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Watford FC injuries and suspensions
Out: None In doubt: Joel Ekstrand, Valon Behrami, Sebastian Prodl
Match Date/Time: Saturday, 10 a.m. ET, 3 p.m. local
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S. - English), NBC Universo (U.S. - Spanish), RDS 2, TSN4 (Canada)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
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