A sound first half of bright and creative attacking football was trumped by an arrogant and sloppy second period where the Gunners let slip a two goal lead to end up being lucky to get away with a point.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lit up Vicarage Road with two expertly taken first half goals. After a slow start from Arsenal, the midfield soon started to get on the ball and make things happen, and it was around the twenty minute mark when tough tackle from Dani Ceballos saw the Gunners regain possession on the half way line. Many in yellow were awaiting the referee's whistle for a foul but those in red just pushed on. Sead Kolasinac took on the mantle and drove forward at speed. Aubameyang was floating on the edge of the box and after a yard or two's movement forward he picked up a well placed pass from the Bosnian before spinning and smashing a low half volley down in the corner past Ben Foster.
A great team move followed shortly later where the ball was zipped from side to side before Granit Xhaka in the middle moved it right centre to find Mesut Ozil. The German found his creative boots of old as he slipped a fine through ball expertly to the on rushing Maitland-Niles, who had made a great run down the right. He whipped a low cross in first time to find that man Aubameyang unmarked in the six yard box. Two-nil and seemingly game over.
The Hornets never really look down and out, one must say. A third Arsenal goal would have surely sealed it but in typical Arsenal fashion, a woeful defense costed valuable points. First, passing out from the back led to all sorts of stupidity among keeper and defence and one particular slack pass found the pressing Tom Cleverly who smashed home from inside the box. Pathetic in all honesty. A dogged Watford then kicked on further knowing and feeling that there was one more goal in the game, and they looked far more up for the fight than anyone in red did.
Then another defensive lapse. A silly challenge from David Luiz saw the hosts awarded a penalty after fouling Roberto Pereyra. The Argentine picked himself up and dispatched the penalty with ease. Two-two a only a few minutes left on the clock. Beyond the score though, what looked clear was that Watford, in part, were dead on their feet yet still gave more for the cause. Arsenal, on the other hand, did look gutted but looked like they hadn't spent it all. They seemingly had more in the tank having not given it every ounce of energy. It just wasn't good enough.
Ratings
Unai Emery: 4
The man in charge got his midfield and forward departments probably right on the day. However, this was about all he got right. In defence, Chambers needs a shot. Together Luiz and Sokratis sounds solid and reliable but in reality it isn't. Ironically, the only clean sheet Arsenal have had so far this season was with Calum Chambers in the line up, with Sokratis and Luiz apart. Emery's substitutions were pretty woeful as well, and it wasn't just the personnel, it was the timings too. Mesut Ozil looked ok but in order to solidify your midfield you'd take him off over Ceballos any day. Yesterday was the German's first appearance of the season so regardless, he's had little football and even less match fitness. Torreira for the yellow carded Guendouzi made sense a short while later but a then midfield of Xhaka, Torreira, Willock and Ozil made no real sense with the little Uruguayan out of position. Torreira is a holding midfielder...he has to play there above anything else but Emery for some reason, sees it differently. Beyond this, there is no real identity and no real game plan. To many, it just looks like a plan of 'find Aubameyang and he will carry us through' - and that is no style at all.
Bernd Leno: 5
The German did the goalkeeping side of things well but let himself down with stupid passes out from the back. Although this is instilled by Emery, every player still has a brain of their own to use.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 4
Grabbed an assist going forward but defensively struggled against Deulofeu for the game's entirety. For the first real time, the Englishman looked like a make shift full back.
Sokratis: 3
A poor performance from the experienced Greek, who seems to have forgotten the basics of defending. No real relationship with Luiz and can't handle being pressed.
David Luiz: 3
Equally as poor as his partner, the mistakes just keep coming. Poor defensively and when under pressure, can't handle a press either and seemingly just can't hoof it clear.
Sead Kolasinac: 4.5
Comfortable going forward as per usual and got a well deserved assist. Yet, couldn't handle the defensive side of the game as Hughes and then Pereyra caused him trouble all game.
Granit Xhaka: 4.5
No real performance at all from the skipper who passed the ball nicely as he always does. Defensively and on the turn, he's far too slow for the deep lying holding role. Needs a true CDM partner to flourish.
Matteo Guendouzi: 5
Average in all areas of the game, and among poor, he looked average. Got stuck in well and put himself about for the team before being subbed in the second half.
Dani Ceballos: 5.5
Keen to make things happen and get the team going. Linked up well with Ozil and Aubameyang and shouldn't have been subbed when he was. Need him on the ball far more.
Mesut Ozil: 5
For a first appearance of the season, it was an ok performance. for one who doesn't typically perform well away from home, it was average all round as he looked to continually create and get his team going.
Nicolas Pepe: 5
A little sluggish from the record signing who got through plenty of work but just couldn't make it happen. It never looked like it was going to be his day.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 6.5
Two goals for the electric Aubameyang who must surely be thinking, why am I here? It must be tough as he goes above and beyond to do his job but is let down by his colleagues week after week.
Subs
Joe Willock: 4
Much of a muchness from the young midfielder who put himself about but never really got going.
Lucas Torreira: 4
Came on far too late to make a difference and played out of position once again.
Reiss Nelson: 4
Only a few minutes to make his mark and did have a couple of good runs. Needs to strengthen up to maintain and withstand a tackle or two.
@craigbennett10
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lit up Vicarage Road with two expertly taken first half goals. After a slow start from Arsenal, the midfield soon started to get on the ball and make things happen, and it was around the twenty minute mark when tough tackle from Dani Ceballos saw the Gunners regain possession on the half way line. Many in yellow were awaiting the referee's whistle for a foul but those in red just pushed on. Sead Kolasinac took on the mantle and drove forward at speed. Aubameyang was floating on the edge of the box and after a yard or two's movement forward he picked up a well placed pass from the Bosnian before spinning and smashing a low half volley down in the corner past Ben Foster.
A great team move followed shortly later where the ball was zipped from side to side before Granit Xhaka in the middle moved it right centre to find Mesut Ozil. The German found his creative boots of old as he slipped a fine through ball expertly to the on rushing Maitland-Niles, who had made a great run down the right. He whipped a low cross in first time to find that man Aubameyang unmarked in the six yard box. Two-nil and seemingly game over.
The Hornets never really look down and out, one must say. A third Arsenal goal would have surely sealed it but in typical Arsenal fashion, a woeful defense costed valuable points. First, passing out from the back led to all sorts of stupidity among keeper and defence and one particular slack pass found the pressing Tom Cleverly who smashed home from inside the box. Pathetic in all honesty. A dogged Watford then kicked on further knowing and feeling that there was one more goal in the game, and they looked far more up for the fight than anyone in red did.
Then another defensive lapse. A silly challenge from David Luiz saw the hosts awarded a penalty after fouling Roberto Pereyra. The Argentine picked himself up and dispatched the penalty with ease. Two-two a only a few minutes left on the clock. Beyond the score though, what looked clear was that Watford, in part, were dead on their feet yet still gave more for the cause. Arsenal, on the other hand, did look gutted but looked like they hadn't spent it all. They seemingly had more in the tank having not given it every ounce of energy. It just wasn't good enough.
Ratings
Unai Emery: 4
The man in charge got his midfield and forward departments probably right on the day. However, this was about all he got right. In defence, Chambers needs a shot. Together Luiz and Sokratis sounds solid and reliable but in reality it isn't. Ironically, the only clean sheet Arsenal have had so far this season was with Calum Chambers in the line up, with Sokratis and Luiz apart. Emery's substitutions were pretty woeful as well, and it wasn't just the personnel, it was the timings too. Mesut Ozil looked ok but in order to solidify your midfield you'd take him off over Ceballos any day. Yesterday was the German's first appearance of the season so regardless, he's had little football and even less match fitness. Torreira for the yellow carded Guendouzi made sense a short while later but a then midfield of Xhaka, Torreira, Willock and Ozil made no real sense with the little Uruguayan out of position. Torreira is a holding midfielder...he has to play there above anything else but Emery for some reason, sees it differently. Beyond this, there is no real identity and no real game plan. To many, it just looks like a plan of 'find Aubameyang and he will carry us through' - and that is no style at all.
Bernd Leno: 5
The German did the goalkeeping side of things well but let himself down with stupid passes out from the back. Although this is instilled by Emery, every player still has a brain of their own to use.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 4
Grabbed an assist going forward but defensively struggled against Deulofeu for the game's entirety. For the first real time, the Englishman looked like a make shift full back.
Sokratis: 3
A poor performance from the experienced Greek, who seems to have forgotten the basics of defending. No real relationship with Luiz and can't handle being pressed.
David Luiz: 3
Equally as poor as his partner, the mistakes just keep coming. Poor defensively and when under pressure, can't handle a press either and seemingly just can't hoof it clear.
Sead Kolasinac: 4.5
Comfortable going forward as per usual and got a well deserved assist. Yet, couldn't handle the defensive side of the game as Hughes and then Pereyra caused him trouble all game.
Granit Xhaka: 4.5
No real performance at all from the skipper who passed the ball nicely as he always does. Defensively and on the turn, he's far too slow for the deep lying holding role. Needs a true CDM partner to flourish.
Matteo Guendouzi: 5
Average in all areas of the game, and among poor, he looked average. Got stuck in well and put himself about for the team before being subbed in the second half.
Dani Ceballos: 5.5
Keen to make things happen and get the team going. Linked up well with Ozil and Aubameyang and shouldn't have been subbed when he was. Need him on the ball far more.
Mesut Ozil: 5
For a first appearance of the season, it was an ok performance. for one who doesn't typically perform well away from home, it was average all round as he looked to continually create and get his team going.
Nicolas Pepe: 5
A little sluggish from the record signing who got through plenty of work but just couldn't make it happen. It never looked like it was going to be his day.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 6.5
Two goals for the electric Aubameyang who must surely be thinking, why am I here? It must be tough as he goes above and beyond to do his job but is let down by his colleagues week after week.
Subs
Joe Willock: 4
Much of a muchness from the young midfielder who put himself about but never really got going.
Lucas Torreira: 4
Came on far too late to make a difference and played out of position once again.
Reiss Nelson: 4
Only a few minutes to make his mark and did have a couple of good runs. Needs to strengthen up to maintain and withstand a tackle or two.
@craigbennett10
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