Watford boss Javi Gracia is happy for Troy Deeney to wind up Arsenal's players this weekend.

Watford's talismanic captain upset the Gunners with his post-match comments about their lack of backbone after his intervention from the bench inspired a 2-1 win in October's reverse fixture at Vicarage Road.

Gracia said: “Troy is our captain and a very good player. Everyone is free to explain feelings and a point of view as he wants – I like this way.

“I don't know what happened with him and the squad in the past and I don't care.

“If you say something about what happened in the past, you are talking about different coaches – I prefer only to think about the future for Troy and all the players."