Analysis

#WATARS: Five things to look out for

With the international break now out of the way, Premier League football is back.

We head to Watford this weekend in search of three points, in what will be Quique Sanchez Flores's first game back in charge of the Hornets.

Ahead of the game, we've picked out five key things to watch out for - scroll down to find out what they are.

A FAMILIAR FACE

Danny Welbeck is in line for his first Watford start when we head to Vicarage Road on Sunday - and is eyeing his first goal in new colours.

 

The England forward, who represented us across five seasons - scoring 26 goals in the process - has made just one appearance since moving to the Hornets.

 

He came off the bench as Watford lost 1-0 to Alex Iwobi’s Everton, but could be in the starting lineup come 4.30pm on Sunday.

 

Speaking to watfordfc.com, Welbeck said: "I’m not going to allow the occasion to get into my head.

 

"Someone said the other day that maybe the script is written for me to score my first Watford goal against Arsenal, but the script writers aren’t playing the game.

 

"So I’m just going to give my best and try to win the game for Watford."

DRAWING IS DOUBTFUL

This fixture has not seen many draws, certainly not at Vicarage Road.

 

Of the last 12 matches to be played at Watford's home, not a single one has ended with the two sides sharing the spoils.

 

Despite the fact Watford won five of the first six of those meetings, we've been in fine form since, winning on five of our last six visits.

 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's unorthodox finish was enough to seal the three points last season, after his fast pressing forced Ben Foster into an error.

PASS MASTER MATTEO

Matteo Guendouzi has enjoyed a strong start to the new season - and the numbers back up just how influential he has been.

 

When the two sides take to the field on Sunday afternoon, nobody on the Vicarage Road pitch will have played more passes than our France international.

 

With 238 passes to his name, Matteo leads the nearest opposition player (Abdoulaye Doucoure) by 15, with his closest competition being Granit Xhaka (235).

 

If Unai Emery's men are to establish midfield dominance over the Hornets, Guendouzi will be pivotal once again. 

 

Guendouzi



SUNDAY SHUTOUT

Unai Emery could see his side register their 10th clean sheet since his appointment, should they keep Watford quiet this weekend.

 

We began the season with an opening-day clean sheet against Newcastle at St. James' Park and there are good omens ahead of this fixture.

 

Two of our nine clean sheets last season came against the Hornets, who are looking to end an eight game winless run in the Premier League.

Leno

AUBA LOVES SUNDAYS

With the news of Alexandre Lacazette's absence until October, there's going to be a lot of focus on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

 

Auba has already found the net three times this season and has scooped the Arsenal.com Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards in an impressive opening to the new campaign.

 

So not only does he go into Sunday's fixture having scored 12 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances, but also with the knack of finding the net on a Sunday.

 

To date, the Gabon international has scored 66 per cent of his league goals on a Sunday - so fingers crossed for more of the same this weekend.

Aubameyang
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