Expected line-ups

Each side's usual system and players over its recent matches, without the injured: a likely eleven, not the team news.

Arsenal4-2-3-1 DM AM Wide

Ya'acov Peón Duru Bradford Sarfo Halabi Lúcio Wolland Friska Nigretti Bautista

• Out: Obaid Al-Barakah (centre-back, injured: sprained knee ligaments, back about 21 January)

Watford4-4-2

Creith Uzochukwu Mwale Gustavo Prats Maia Costa Berghuis Zeitel Puras Westwood Ashkenazy

• Out: Stéphane Mbatchi Ngoma (striker, injured: pulled calf muscle, back about 4 January)
• Out: Carlos López (central midfielder, injured: sprained ankle ligaments, back about 18 January)

Form

#	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Chelsea	19	+56	55
2	Liverpool	20	+3	36
3	Southampton	19	+6	35
4	Rotherham United	19	+11	34
5	Plymouth Argyle	19	+5	31
6	Manchester United	20	+4	31
7	Everton	19	+1	31
8	Nottingham Forest	19	+2	27
9	Newcastle United	19	-1	25
10	Watford	19	-1	25
11	Reading	20	-10	25
12	West Ham United	19	+7	23
13	Arsenal	19	-2	22
14	Manchester City	19	-7	22
15	Aston Villa	19	-6	21
16	Middlesbrough	19	-12	21
17	Stoke City	18	-11	20
18	Sheffield United	19	-8	18
19	Wolverhampton Wanderers	18	-18	15
20	Luton Town	20	-19	11

Head to head

• Watford 1-1 Arsenal English Premier Division
• Arsenal 1-0 Watford English Premier Division
• Watford 0-0 Arsenal English Premier Division
• Watford 0-1 Arsenal English FA Cup
• Arsenal 0-0 Watford English FA Cup