It’s hardly a new phenomenon at this time of year for Arsenal to be in crisis, but the 2018 edition looks as though it could be terminal for Arsene Wenger.

The long-serving Frenchman’s tenure, which has at times been glorious, could well reach a sour conclusion at the season’s close.

It’s fair to say it is a good time to visit the Emirates Stadium then as Watford prepare to make the journey to north London The Gunners have lost their last four games and are relying on winning the Europa League as their best route back into the Champions League next season.

Watford in contrast are in high spirits and will arrive at the Gunners home still basking in the glow of two back-to-back home wins, and believing there is no reason they can’t worsen Arsenal’s problems.

The atmosphere at the Emirates is likely to be toxic from kick-off with the number of fans still possessing membership to the Wenger in brigade dwindling by the week.

With this in mind, the Hornets must surely look to get at a side, by centre-back Laurent Koscielny’s own admission, running dangerously low on confidence.

If Watford can set the tempo early in the game and get their hosts playing on the back foot, Arsenal supporters’ patience is unlikely to last long.

Add to the mix Watford’s strong recent record on the road against Arsenal – they have won on two of their last visits – and there is genuine reason to believe the Hornets can cause an upset.

They did exactly that earlier this term when Troy Deeney came from the bench to bully the Arsenal defence and inspire a 2-1 comeback victory.

Deeney’s cajones comments which came in the wake of that memorable win, while perhaps ill-advised, were not too wide of the mark and the Gunners failed to deal with the physical challenge.

Two goals in his last two games have seen Deeney come into a purple patch just in time for the reverse fixture.

The prospect of facing a porous Arsenal defence which has failed to keep its sheets clean for the past 11 Premier League games will, you sense, have Deeney chomping at the bit.

Brighton have already shown the Gunners are there to be gotten at as they made the most of a shambolic defensive display to beat them 2-1 in Wenger’s side’s last outing.

Follow the Seagulls’ attacking blueprint on Sunday and there is no reason the Hornets should fear their off-colour opposition.