Wenger urges Arsenal to blunt twin threats of Hornets Ighalo and Deeney
ARSENE WENGER may have a full quota of fit centre-backs to chose from against Watford today – but the Arsenal boss still fears the threat of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo.
The Hornets make the short trip to the Emirates for their FA Cup sixthround tie – with a place at a Wembley semi-final the prize for the victor.
Arsenal, in search of their third FA Cup success in as many years, came through a replay at Hull in midweek to set up a clash with Barclays Premier League rivals Watford.
Wenger lost both of his centre-backs on Tuesday as Per Mertesacker and Gabriel were forced off with injuries. But he is hopeful both will be available today, while Laurent Koscielny could also get a recall having recovered from a calf injury.
Even though Wenger could have the trio at his disposal, with a Champions League tie in Barcelona and a tough Premier League trip to Everton to come inside a week, he may have to look carefully at who is given the nod against Quique Sanchez Flores’ side.
And the Frenchman is wary of the threat that Watford’s two strikers can possess. ‘They have done extremely well,’ Wenger said of Watford’s first season back in the topflight. ‘It looks like the Championship teams that come up now deal very well with the Premier League regime.
‘You have Watford who are doing extremely well. They are very prepared and very efficient. They have two strikers who are very efficient with Ighalo and Deeney.
‘They give us a tough time. When we played against Watford in the Premier League, Deeney had not scored I think for a long time. After us he started to score but during the game I was impressed by him. He’s a good player.
‘They have a very good understanding between the strikers and the quality between our two centre backs will be vital on Sunday.’