Tottenham vs Watford preview: Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs wanting to open up Arsenal gap

A look ahead to the Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane

(2016 Getty Images)

It’s a big game for…

Heurelho Gomes: Fresh from a stellar performance against Chelsea in midweek, Watford’s Brazilian stopper will need to be on his mettle against his former club.

Prone to the odd clanger, Gomes can’t afford any lapses here against an increasingly clinical Spurs outfit – and with new signing Costel Pantilimon breathing down his neck for the Hornets’ No. 1 jersey.

Best stat…

1987: The last time Watford beat Spurs in a top-flight fixture. David Pleat’s team lost 1-0 at Vicarage Road, seven days ahead of their FA Cup final meeting with Coventry City.

Remember when…

A 2007 meeting between the teams was meandering along towards a routine Spurs victory, with the home team 1-0 ahead, when goalkeeper Paul Robinson hammered forward a free-kick from deep in his own-half.

The ball took a wicked bounce over the head of an embarrassed Ben Foster on its way into the back of the net. Tottenham went on to claim a 3-1 victory.

Player to watch…

Dele Alli: Difficult to believe he’s only 19 – and playing his first Premier League season. A wonderful talent, who, with Spurs expected to operate on the front-foot in this contest, is sure to be in the thick of the action.

Past three-meetings…

Watford 1 (Ighalo) Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Lamela, Son Heung-min), Premier League, December 2015

Watford 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Van der Vaart), FA Cup, January 2012

Watford 1 (Priskin) Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Pavlyuchenko pen, Bent), League Cup, December 2008

Form guide…

Tottenham Hotspur: LWWWWW

Watford: WLLWWD

Vital information…

KICK-OFF TIME: 3pm

TV: Highlights on Match of the Day on BBC1 10:30pm