Arsenal V Watford at Emirates Stadium: LIVE

02 April 2016 09:13
Arsenal V Watford - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.

Arsene Wenger retains belief in title chances

Arsene Wenger knows the results of leaders Leicester will determine where the Barclays Premier League title goes at the end of the season but he is not ruling out his third-placed team's chances.

The Gunners lie 11 points behind the Foxes with a game in hand and Wenger knows even if his team win their remaining games they could still lose out.

Ahead of the game against Watford, he said: "It depends on the results of Leicester City. We are depending on Leicester City and nobody knows how they will go in the last seven games.

"They have seven games, we have eight. What is important is that we play our eight games with complete commitment and passion, and see where we finish."

Wenger will be without Jack Wilshere for the Watford game but he hopes the midfielder will be selected by England manger Roy Hodgson for Euro 2016.

The 24-year-old is closing in on a return for the Gunners having not played a competitive game this season, after suffering a broken fibula on the eve of the campaign.

Wenger was was unequivocal when answering whether he felt Wilshere would make the squad and if he would welcome his call-up.

"Yes. Yes to both questions. Both answers are yes," Wenger said.

"You want your players to compete. When you're a footballer you want to compete at the top level and what is important is that Jack, who is frustrated enough, regains confidence.

"It's very important for his confidence that he can go to the Euros and he can play. It's also important to have a player of his quality available."

Arsenal could welcome back goalkeeper Petr Cech against Watford after the 33-year-old missed the last five games with a calf problem. David Ospina is likely to drop back to the bench.

Wilshere (leg) and Tomas Rosicky (thigh) are back in full training but will not be involved while fellow midfielders Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Santi Cazorla (Achilles) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) also remain absent.

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores believes last month's FA Cup victory over Arsenal makes the league trip to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday extra challenging for the Hornets.

The Hornets beat the Gunners 2-1 in an impressive cup quarter-final performance, but Flores knows they cannot take anything for granted this time.

On whether Watford's task is more difficult, Flores said: "For sure.

"It's a completely different competition, completely different scenario, completely different match. We need to prepare because they are a very good team but we want to win.

"Every match is very hard in England, in the FA Cup and the league. We are expecting a very tough match."

Flores said of Arsenal: "They have to try to get to the top of the league but they have very good players.

"For Arsenal, they have a lot of pressure but anything can happen in the Premier League."

Arsenal and Watford's training facilities are within walking distance of each other, and before the FA Cup match Wenger joked that he was sending spies over the fence of the Watford training ground.

Flores says he would be more than welcome.

He said: "We are open for everyone. We do not need to hide anything. Anyone who wants to come and watch our training is welcome.

"We are happy for anyone to come."

Flores has no fresh injury or suspension worries ahead of the game.

The club's international contingent returned unscathed from representing their countries and Flores plans to make a decision on his match day squad after watching the team's final training sessions.

Defender Joel Ekstrand, having only recently returned from a serious knee injury, is unlikely to feature despite playing 75 minutes of a Watford Under-21 game over the Easter break.

Source: PAR