Watford have earned seven points from a possible 45 available against Arsenal in the Premier League - with two wins, one draw and 12 defeats - though they have only lost one of their last three home matches versus the Gunners.

Arsenal have scored in all 15 of their Premier League games against Watford - the only team they have a better record against is West Brom, scoring in all 26 meetings.

The Gunners have scored the first goal in 14 of their 15 Premier League meetings with Watford, with the exception being a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in January 2017.

The clubs are training-ground neighbours, both based in London Colney where Arteta’s side have their own facility next to the home of the Hornets, which was previously occupied by Arsenal.

The proximity of the bases would mean close ties would be easily made, with Arteta himself having trained over the hedge from Watford’s squad during his playing days with the Gunners.

Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake were both taken off against Peterborough in Manchester City’s FA Cup midweek win. Dias is expected to be out for up to six weeks with a leg injury and Ake has a minor knock. Cole Palmer will miss out too.

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay returned to training on Wednesday and should be included in the matchday squad but Edinson Cavani has a groin problem and Cristiano Ronaldo has a rumoured injury and may not feature.

Roy Hodgson makes three changes to the Watford side that drew nil-nil with Manchester United last time out. Ismaila Sarr, Josh King and Jeremy Ngakia drop out with Cucho Hernandez, Joao Pedro, and Kiko Femenia all returning to the starting XI.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are unchanged from the team that defeated Wolves 2-1 in their last league game.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Louza, Cleverly, Hernandez, Dennis, Joao Pedro

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Cathcart, Samir, Kamara, Cleverley, Louza, Sissoko, Dennis, Pedro, Hernandez.

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Cedric, Gabriel, White, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Lacazette

Watford come into the game 19th in the Premier League and three points away from safety. Roy Hodgson’s men will take positives from their nil-nil draw with Manchester United last weekend and hope to repeat that performance against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal today.

The Gunners can end the day inside the top if the claim three points against Watford and Manchester City defeat Manchester United in the derby later on. Arsenal have three games in hand on fourth placed Man Utd and well set to push ahead in the battle for the Champions League spots.

Watford have four points from their last three games after defeating Aston Villa 1-0 away from home back in February and holding Manchester United to a goalless draw at Old Trafford last weekend. Their only blip during this run was a 4-1 defeat at Vicarage Road to Crystal Palace and Roy Hodgson will hope to respond with a strong performance against Arsenal today.

The Gunners are in good form. They have won their last three consecutive league games since a goalless draw against Burnley at the end of January. That run has put them on the verge of breaking into the top four and Mikel Arteta will want to bring that momentum into today’s clash at Vicarage Road.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly been ruled out of Sunday’s Manchester derby through injury with Edinson Cavani is also out of the match-day squad for the game at the Etihad Stadium.

That leaves interim United manager Ralf Rangnick with only Marcus Rashford as a recognised centre-forward, with attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes also an option as false nine.

Ronaldo is Manchester United’s top scorer this season with 15 goals in 30 appearances in all competitions although the 37-year-old has only scored one of those goals in 2022 - a shot from distance in the 2-0 home win over Brighton & Hove Albion on February 15.

Ismaila Sarr is absent from today’s fixture with Arsenal after picking up a hamstring injury in Watford’s goalless draw with Manchester United but Kiko Femenia could return after missing the match at Old Trafford with a slight knock.

William Troost-Ekong will also miss out due to a muscle strain and defender Nicolas Nkoulou is nearing a return to full training having been sidelined since November.

Arsenal welcome back Emile Smith Rowe, who sat out the win versus Wolves through illness but Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a doubt because of the calf injury that ruled him out of the Gunners’ last game.