Football

Arsenal vs Watford result: Roberto Pereyra punishes David Luiz to salvage draw – 5 things we learned



Arsenal’s trip to Watford in the Premier League on Sunday led to some captivating entertainment as the home side came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Quique Sanchez Flores’ (second) first match in charge of the Hornets.

The visitors were looking to regain some form after losing to Liverpool and drawing with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in their last two games, but the stakes were somewhat higher for Watford, who were seeking a first league win of the season after opening their campaign with three consecutive defeats and a draw.

Ultimately, neither side got what they wanted, but we learned a few things…

Football fans forget fast

Supporters of the beautiful game generally expressed sympathy for Javi Gracia when the Spaniard was relieved of his managerial duties at Watford during the international break. The 49-year-old’s 19-month spell at Vicarage Road was largely admirable – last season he led his side to an 11th-place league finish and the club’s first FA Cup final in 35 years – but a poor end to his first full campaign bled into a sub-par start to this term, and Gracia was given his marching orders.

Any sympathetic feelings towards Gracia were forgotten almost at once, though, as Sanchez Flores was warmly welcomed back to Watford, stepping out to a rousing reception moments before kick-off.

In fact, there was a real sense of excitement around the ground, a feeling that was only enhanced by Watford’s fine effort on Sunday.

Pereyra celebrates his equaliser vs Arsenal (Getty)

An encouraging return for Sanchez Flores

The home side attacked with verve and conviction from the opening whistle. They frequently dispossessed Arsenal in midfield and defence, tried their luck from various distances, and their sole intention was to win.

Gerard Deulofeu appeared inspired, Tom Cleverley looked like an English Deulofeu, and even at 2-0 down, Watford emerged for the second half full of desire to affect the result. Hornets fans will have been buoyed by the energy on show from their team, as well as the flashes of genuine quality.

There is plenty for Watford to build on from Sunday’s performance. The club’s supporters will just hope that their side can find a much-needed victory soon.

Aubameyang doesn’t need Lacazette, or Nketiah

At around 2pm in Barnsley, on-loan Gunner Eddie Nketiah came off the bench to get on the end of a free-kick and belt a close-range volley past Bradley Collins, breaking the deadlock for Leeds and sending them on their way to a 2-0 victory. With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s striker soulmate Alexandre Lacazette out until October with an ankle injury, Arsenal fans will have felt at that moment that Nketiah’s presence at Vicarage Road might have proven useful, if only to give their Gabon international some support.

By approximately 4.50pm, Arsenal fans’ concerns about their strike-force situation will have diminished, if only marginally. Aubameyang’s first finish was as ruthless as it was riveting; the striker spun with his first touch and drove the ball past Foster with his second, and by the time the goalkeeper realised a shot had been fired, he was picking the ball out of the net.

Aubameyang’s second goal was virtually unmissable, having been teed up so precisely by Ainsley Maitland-Niles after a neat pass from Mesut Ozil, but whichever way they come, Arsenal fans won’t mind. After Sunday’s game they may just feel that their star striker can score enough goals to tide the Gunners over until Lacazette’s return.

Guendouzi goes backwards

Matteo Guendouzi was the midfield general for Arsenal in their north London derby draw with Spurs before the international break, but he resembled a startled private at times on Sunday.

An eager Deulofeu caught the 20-year-old unaware on the edge of his own box in the first half, milliseconds after the Arsenal player received a goal-kick, then early in the second half, Guendouzi played an impressively accurate cross… but it was into his own box, and the ball arrived at the feet of Andre Gray, who luckily let the Frenchman off the hook with a poor touch.

Guendouzi, who was replaced on 66 minutes, is young and will improve, but consistency is key. That needs to be the next attribute that he accesses.

Pepe’s perennial potential is a problem

Twenty minutes in, Nicolas Pepe put a shot wide from a promising position after some nice dribbling. It was fairly emblematic of his time in an Arsenal shirt so far; all potential, no final product.

Even if Aubameyang can shoulder the goalscoring burden at Arsenal in Lacazette and Nketiah’s absences, the rest of the team need to do their bit, and questions will be asked of Pepe if he cannot find a clinical edge in the final third.

One assist in his opening five games is not a disastrous return, but it’s also not the electrifying introduction to the 24-year-old that many Arsenal fans expected.



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.