Watford 2-1 ArsenalHome team scorersTroy Deeney 71 Pen
Tom Cleverley 90 +1:32
Away team scorersPer Mertesacker 39
Per Mertesacker’s first league goal for 18 months counted for nothing as Arsenal relinquished the lead and left Vicarage Road empty-handed following two second-half goals from Watford. Troy Deeney equalised from the penalty spot – his first goal of the season – before Tom Cleverley lashed in the winning goal in the last minute.
Arsenal had looked to be in control at half-time thanks to the header scored by Mertesacker, who was making his first league start in 18 months in place of the injured Skhodran Mustafi. But Arsenal spurned two chances to increase their lead before surrendering it and they also lost Danny Welbeck and Laurent Koscielny to suspected injuries.
The last meeting between these clubs, in January, yielded a win for Watford, after which Arsène Wenger lamented his team’s unreliability. Perhaps that was among the reasons for which he omitted two players who suffered emotional and physical ordeals while on international duty, with Alexis Sánchez and Aaron Ramsey not even among Arsenal’s substitutes here in the wake of their countries’ midweek eliminations from the World Cup. Mesut Özil, by contrast, was included, but not in the starting lineup because Wenger prioritised solidity.
Özil did not play in last month’s honourable 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge, which was Arsenal’s first away league match since August’s humiliation at Anfield, in which the German flopped. Vicarage Road would be no place for idealists. Alex Iwobi got the nod.
Watford approached the game in high spirits even though they had not won at home this season. Heartening performances and three straight away wins created the sense that the club is on the up under the management of Marco Silva. One group of Watford fans displayed their optimism by unfurling what they claimed to be the biggest printed flag ever seen in an English ground – it certainly was gigantic, covering the whole Rookery End and emblazoned with a herd of harts under the Latin word Audentior, meaning “to go forward with boldness”.
That is what their team tried to do. Starting with a back three for the first time this season, and thus matching Wenger’s setup, the hosts strived to put early pressure on Arsenal’s defence. But with Laurent Koscielny fit again and Mertesacker showing why he remains so trusted at 33, that defence held firm in the opening half and it was the visitors who threatened first, Adrian Mariappa making an excellent tackle to halt a run by Welbeck in the ninth minute. Mariappa intervened again two minutes later to prevent Welbeck turning the ball into the net from close range after a volleyed cross by Sead Kolasinac, who had been picked out masterfully by Granit Xhaka.
Watford created their first chance in the 18th minute, when Abdoulaye Doucouré ventured into the space behind Héctor Bellerín and then delivered a dangerous cross. That might have been rewarded with a goal if Roberto Pereyra had not mistimed a header from seven yards. Moments later Pereyra inspired triumphant cheers when he spun impudently past Nacho Monreal on halfway. But then, with Arsenal exposed, he reprieved the visitors with a careless pass.
Mohamed Elneny tried to bypass the Watford defence on the half-hour by going straight for goal from 25 yards, but his shot flew over.
Then Alexandre Lacazette teed up Welbeck with a sumptuous dink, but José Holebas was alert and lithe enough to poke the ball off the foot of the striker before he could shoot. The teams, both disciplined and dynamic, had been evenly matched but now Arsenal were gaining an upper hand. They capitalised in the 38th minute by scoring a goal of textbook simplicity. Xhaka floated over a corner from the right and Mertesacker made Mariappa and Cleverley look Lilliputian as he ignored their challenges and headed into the net. By half-time Arsenal were looking comfortable. Arsenal and sought to retain control in the second period.
They kept things tight, determined that Watford would have to do something exceptional to draw level and occasionally they countered. Özil, introduced on the hour following injury to Welbeck, slipped a pass through to Iwobi, whose shot was saved by Heurelho Gomes. Then Iwobi presented Özil with an even better chance, but the German’s attempted finish was weak, offering a routine save to Gomes.
Then Arsenal were punished, albeit from a soft penalty. Richarlison tumbled under a challenge in the box by Bellerín, and Deeney converted from the spot. Watford were not satisfied with a point. They snatched victory at the death after triggering panic in the Arsenal defence. Cleverley kept cool to whack the ball into the net from 10 yards.
Guardian
