Arsenal travel to Vicarage Road on Sunday afternoon to take on relegation-threatened Watford in a highly-anticipated Premier League clash.
The north London outfit have enjoyed a fine run of form in recent times, clinching 22 points from their last nine fixtures as Mikel Arteta and Co look to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time under the Spaniard's tutelage.
However, today's opponents won't be a pushover, with the Hornets delivering a defensively solid display last weekend to secure a 0-0 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
United now sit just two points ahead of Arsenal, who have played three less times in the English top-flight, meaning a win would send them above the Red Devils, who travel to the Etihad Stadium to battle it out against local rivals Manchester City later in the day.
Now, Arteta has named his starting line-up for the game against Roy Hodgson's men, with Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette's keeping their places up-front whilst Emile Smith Rowe was left out of the matchday squad completely.
The Gunners faithful took to social media to voice their opinions on the starting XI and here is what a select few on Twitter said.
@tcz11z: "What’s happened to ESR didn’t he train?"
@ryan_crane2003: "Pepe should have started."
@peaceofinside: "ESR we needed."
@kena_bula: "Should we be worried about ESR ?"
@dumpthumpt: "where is Pepe."
@Princedebbyng: "Pepe over Martinelli today.... Common he did better than him in our last two matches.... anyway good luck."
Confirmed Arsenal XI to face Watford: Aaron Ramsdale, Cedric Soares, Benjamin White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette.
