Summary

  • Arsenal looking for their seventh straight win in all competitions

  • Watford go into fixture higher in the table than Arsenal for the first time since 1984

Live Reporting

Saj Chowdhury

  1. Ready?

    The Emirates is bathed in glorious sunshine - can sunshine be anything but? OK, maybe oppressive... post 30C.

    Enough!

    We are moments away from the seventh round of Premier League matches for these two sides.

    Aaron RamseyGetty Images

  2. Underdogs?

    Arsenal v Watford (15:00 BST)

    Arsenal

    Arsenal v WatfordRex Features

    FAKE NEWS ALERT: This picture is actually from 1985

    • This is the first time Watford (4th) are facing Arsenal (6th) ahead of them in the league table since September 1984. 19th place Arsenal won 4-3 at 14th place Watford back then, in the third game of the 1984-85 campaign.

  3. Gabby meets Troy Deeney: 'Open and honest'

    ..

    Read the piece by our Gabby Logan right... here.

  4. 'Watford will be full of belief'

    Steve Bower
    Match of the Day commentator

    The fact that Watford head into a fixture against Arsenal higher in the table than their opposition for the first time since 1984 says it all about their start to the campaign.

    Having beaten Tottenham and pushed Manchester United, they will be full of belief heading to the Emirates, despite only managing one away win in their last 14 attempts.

    Arsenal will attempt to record five successive league wins for the first time in more than a year, which tells its own story. It will be important for the Gunners to lay another small building block under Unai Emery for foundations that were never going to be a quick fix.

    One thing is already clear in the post Wenger era - it's rarely going to be uneventful.

  5. Speaking of wireless headphones...

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  6. Get the wireless buds on

    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Audio comms of this match is on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

  7. Team news

    Arsenal v Watford (15:00 BST)

    Arsenal only make one change from the XI that started in the 2-0 win over Everton last week.

    Greek defender Sokratis, who has started in every league match since the start of the season, suffered a dead leg against the Toffees and has failed to recover.

    Rob Holding will take his place.

    ..

    Watford also make only one change from the side that drew 1-1 at Fulham last week.

    Daryl Janmaat is out for six weeks following knee surgery and has been replaced by fellow full-back Marc Navarro.

    ..

  8. Gracia: Watford boss on September's front cover

    Javi GraciaRex Features

    There was an enlightening interview with Watford manager Javi Gracia in the Independent this week.

    He doesn't explain the key to his side's current slab of success - fourth in the table with 13 points from six games - but rather opens up about the tactics he employs, which no doubt have helped produce the good results.

    He said: "When I’ve come up against a player that good, Messi – or even others – it’s about facing him as a team. It’s about reinforcing to the players what areas need to be defended more, why we have to move into specific areas.”

    I mean, it's a fairly simple tactic - pick out the key man and nullify the threat - but Gracia has employed it more effectively than others. Will they slow down post 40 points?

    His fellow Spaniard Unai Emery is hosting today - not appropriate to pass judgement on his reign so far, but his Arsenal have picked up five more points than his predecessor managed with the side in the corresponding fixtures last season - aka a good start.

    Live text of this match coming up and team news in a mo.