Red-hot Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo, will lead Watford’s charge as they play host to Arsenal at Vicarage Road in Saturday’s (today) late kickoff in the Premier League.
Ighalo, who has scored The Hornets’ last five goals this term, is optimistic of adding to his number of goals for the club when Arsenal visit Vicarage Road this weekend.
The Nigerian international also knows that they would have to work their socks off if they want to stand any chance of claiming a result against the North London club.
“Arsenal are a big team and it is not going to be easy. They are not a team we are going to take lightly because they are doing very well at the moment. They are not just doing well but also scoring goals,” Ighalo said.
The two-week international break may have disrupted the visiting side’s flow, but they will be keen to push on from their memorable win over Manchester United last time out.
They may have gone under the radar somewhat since earning promotion, but Quique Flores will be more than happy with the start his side have made on their return to the Premier League.
Just the two defeats in all so far, one of which came away at league leaders Manchester City, has left the Hornets sitting comfortably in mid-table at this admittedly early stage.
One concern for the Spaniard, however, has been his side’s over-reliance on Ighalo to find the net in recent weeks, the Nigeria international scoring each of Watford’s last five goals.
Incredibly, Miguel Layun is the only other player to have made a breakthrough this term, and that came just 13 minutes into the term in a 2-2 draw at Everton.
It perhaps comes as little surprise, then, to discover that Watford have scored the league’s joint-fewest goals so far, with three shutouts to date.
On the flip side, however, the defensive record remains very strong for a newly-promoted side, having shipped seven goals up the other end.
No side can boast a better record than that, which goes to show that it may be defence, rather than attack – which many had predicted – that is more likely to keep Flores’s charges up come May at this rate.
Watford can hold claim to having the lowest shot-conversion rate and poorest shooting accuracy figures in the top flight this season, only upping the pressure on last season’s leading marksman Troy Deeney to find his groove in front of goal.
Ighalo, who has scored The Hornets’ last five goals this term, is optimistic of adding to his number of goals for the club when Arsenal visit Vicarage Road this weekend.
The Nigerian international also knows that they would have to work their socks off if they want to stand any chance of claiming a result against the North London club.
“Arsenal are a big team and it is not going to be easy. They are not a team we are going to take lightly because they are doing very well at the moment. They are not just doing well but also scoring goals,” Ighalo said.
The two-week international break may have disrupted the visiting side’s flow, but they will be keen to push on from their memorable win over Manchester United last time out.
They may have gone under the radar somewhat since earning promotion, but Quique Flores will be more than happy with the start his side have made on their return to the Premier League.
Just the two defeats in all so far, one of which came away at league leaders Manchester City, has left the Hornets sitting comfortably in mid-table at this admittedly early stage.
One concern for the Spaniard, however, has been his side’s over-reliance on Ighalo to find the net in recent weeks, the Nigeria international scoring each of Watford’s last five goals.
Incredibly, Miguel Layun is the only other player to have made a breakthrough this term, and that came just 13 minutes into the term in a 2-2 draw at Everton.
It perhaps comes as little surprise, then, to discover that Watford have scored the league’s joint-fewest goals so far, with three shutouts to date.
On the flip side, however, the defensive record remains very strong for a newly-promoted side, having shipped seven goals up the other end.
No side can boast a better record than that, which goes to show that it may be defence, rather than attack – which many had predicted – that is more likely to keep Flores’s charges up come May at this rate.
Watford can hold claim to having the lowest shot-conversion rate and poorest shooting accuracy figures in the top flight this season, only upping the pressure on last season’s leading marksman Troy Deeney to find his groove in front of goal.
Watford possible starting lineup: Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Prodl, Ake; Anya, Capoue, Behrami, Abdi; Deeney, Ighalo.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Mertesacker, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud.
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