ARSENAL welcome Watford to The Emirates on Super Sunday's final day. Marcus Ally (@Marcus_Ally_4) oversees the Premier League encounter.
Arsenal vs Watford | Sunday 26th July 2020, 16:00 | Sky Sports
Arsenal host Watford on survival Sunday needing to better the result of Aston Villa who face West Ham United to secure Premier League for next season. The odds are stacked against the Hornets who were on the receiving end of a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last time out while the Villans beat Arsenal 1-0 in a nailbiter.
Hayden Mullins will be instilling fighting spirit into his squad for the club’s biggest game of their season, with one eye on proceedings at the London Stadium. They need a heroic display with the Gunners coming into the match as favourites despite having very little to play for and the FA Cup final, their only way into European football qualification, following this fixture.
Game situation
It is do-or-die for the visitors with Aston Villa having a kinder last game, and they face an Arsenal side who have been victorious on the last eight Premier League final days in a row.
The Hornets are only in the relegation zone on goal difference, tied on 34 points with the Villans, but only one goal keeping Dean Smith’s men above the trapdoor. They have a goal difference of -26 compared to Watford’s -27.
The Hornets have beaten Arsenal three times in their spell in the top tier and will call on that as inspiration with experienced heads like Troy Deeney expected to lead the escape route.
The 32-year-old has three goals in his last four, admittedly two from the penalty spot but you can guarantee will leave everything out there. Provide plenty of headaches for the Arsenal backline.
Only a two-club man Deeney has been excellent in Watford’s venture in the Premier League scoring 132 goals and contributing 59 assists in 397 games. Cracking value for someone who cost just over £650,000 from Walsall in August 2010.
The betting angles
Arsenal’s matches this season have seen both teams find the net a lot, the second most in the division. With so much on the line and their frailties in defence that market is tempting.
Mikel Arteta is likely to rotate his squad quite a lot with the FA Cup final in mind, they face Chelsea who they beat in the final in 2017. Getting on side with Watford may be advisable under those circumstances, the Spanish coach has already provided more minutes to younger players since the resumption of play so it would not be a surprise to see a host of fresh faces.
A sensible play would be to give Watford a goal start (+1) on the Asian Handicap at 1/2 with bet365, with your stake returning should they lose out by one goal.
The main pick for this game though is a highest scoring second half. With news of results elsewhere it is likely Watford will have to take a gung-ho approach at some point, leaving themselves more vulnerable in defence but more dangerous in offence. You can find that at 1/1 with Betfair best price.
Best Bets
Arsenal v Watford – Watford +1 Asian Handicap (1/2 bet365)
Arsenal v Watford – Second Half to be the Highest Scoring Half (1/1 Betfair)
