Arsenal vs Watford - as it happened: Latest score, goals and updates from the Emirates and around the Premier League

All the latest from the Saturday 3pm kick-offs

Arsenal v Watford Premier League match preview

Unai Emery’s Arsenal will look to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven games when they welcome London rivals Watford to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners began their EFL Cup campaign with a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Brentford on Wednesday, with Alexandre Lacazette once again on the scoresheet. Arsenal have also totted up four wins on the trot in the league, while their first clean sheet of the season also came last weekend against Everton.

Javi Gracia’s Watford were less fortunate and were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties by Tottenham at Stadium MK. The Hornets however do sit fourth in the league table, above their opponents on Saturday, but have not won since the beginning of the month.

Preview

What time does it start?

Arsenal vs. Watford kicks off at 3PM (BST)

Where can I watch it?

The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.

Independent Sport will keep you up-to-date with all the goals as they fly in via our live blog.

Highlights will be shown at 10:30 PM on BBC One.

It’s a big game for…

Shkodran Mustafi: The German defender looked uncomfortable against Brentford in midweek and had Rob Holding to thank for digging the side out of danger at times. Sokratis is expected to feature after suffering a dead leg against Vorskla, but the Greek defender will need help from his fellow centre-back if they are to stave off the threat of Troy Deeney.

The German in action for Arsenal against Everton (AFP/Getty Images)

Best stat…

56: Arsenal have won 56 points from a possible 60 from Saturday 3pm home games since their opening-day defeat to Aston Villa at the beginning of the 2013/14 season.

Player to watch…

Andre Gray: The forward proved to be a nightmare for the Fulham defence last weekend, constantly showing his desire to use his pace to run in behind, and he capitalised on some abysmal defending from the hosts to give the visitors an early lead. Theo Walcott and Richarlison were a similar threat for the Arsenal defence with their pace and timing of their runs, but spurned their chances when they came. Gray will hope to go one better than the Everton duo this weekend and beat Petr Cech.

Andre Gray has impressed for Watford so far (Getty)

Past three meetings…

Arsenal 3 Watford 0, Premier League, March 2018

Watford 2 Arsenal 1, Premier League, October 2017

Arsenal 1 Watford 2, Premier League, January 2017

Form guide…

Arsenal: WWWWWW

Watford: WWWLDL

Odds…

Arsenal to win: 4/9

Watford to win: 23/4

Draw: 19/5

Key Points

• Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Monreal, Torreira, Xhaka, Ozil, Ramsey, Aubameyang, Lacazette. 
• Subs: Mkhitaryan, Lichtsteiner, Iwobi, Leno, Welbeck, Guendouzi, Kolasinac. 
• Watford: Foster, Navarro, Cathcart, Kabasele, Holebas, Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Pereyra, Deeney, Gray. 
• Subs: Gomes, Mariappa, Success, Masina, Sema, Chalobah, Femenia. 

[29 September 2018 11:18 · Jack Watson]

Welcome!

Good morning sports fans and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of West Ham vs Manchester United - a classic fixture, if you will.

Stay tuned for breaking team news from around 11:30 and all the build up from the London Stadium.

[29 September 2018 11:38 · Jack Watson]

Team news

[29 September 2018 11:42 · Jack Watson]

Brute force

Take a look at that Manchester United midfield trio: Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini. With a combined height of a skyscraper and the weight of a tank, you imagine that Mourinho has pulled together this combination to stop West Ham's already limited creative midfield from getting anything in the middle of the park.

West Ham welcome back Marko Arnautovic from injury, and he will have it all to do against what appears to be a stubborn opposition. 

[29 September 2018 11:46 · Jack Watson]

 Could Manchester United play with a back three?

[29 September 2018 11:55 · Jack Watson]

No Sanchez?

He's been missing since he joined Manchester United in January, but this afternoon he is a notable absence from the side to play West Ham. The Chilean winger traveled with the squad but doesn't even make the bench!

You can see him here arriving at the London Stadium with his teammates, but Jose Mourinho has gone with Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial to start, with Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata the reinforcements from the bench. 

[29 September 2018 11:59 · Jack Watson]

Pogba starts, but not as captain

Rio Ferdinand and Paul Scholes have their say on that training ground incidenet

[29 September 2018 12:01 · Jack Watson]

'Mourinho can justifiably feel aggrieved that the truce was broken'

The Independent's northern football correspondent Mark Critchley says that Jose Moruinho has made errors at Manchester United, just like any other, but his handling of Paul Pogba's situation at the club is not one of them.

[29 September 2018 12:04 · Jack Watson]

'Maybe we will see what will happen in the future'

One player that Jose Mourinho is a fan of is West Ham's talisman Marko Arnautovic. The Austrian forward has shown he is determined to make the most of his career, but Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini has told his to improve his consistency before he can think about a move to Old Trafford.

[29 September 2018 12:05 · Jack Watson]

'No player is bigger than the club'

Pretty straightforward stuff this from Jose Mourinho. Paul Pogba, consider yourself told.

[29 September 2018 12:08 · Jack Watson]

“If Valencia is not playing I will try to go in another direction.”

In Antonio Valencia's absence Ashley Young, not Paul Pogba, is wearing the captain's armband, but Jose Mourinho said he intends to share it around when their usual skipper isn't playing.