Martin Keown has criticised the Arsenal defence for their shambolic display in Sunday’s second-half capitulation against Watford and says they ‘shot themselves in the foot’ trying to play out from the back.
A first-half double from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the Gunners a comfortable 2-0 lead at Vicarage Road where their hosts were bottom of the table without a Premier League win so far this season.
However, goals from Tom Cleverley and Roberto Pereyra after the break pulled Watford level and they might even have won the game as Unai Emery’s side went to pieces in a 2-2 draw.
Keown was one of Arsenal’s best ever defenders during his 17 years at the club over two spells but could only look on in horror as his former club threw away two points.
‘What a horrific second 45 minutes this was for Unai Emery, probably his most painful since he came to the club,’ Keown told the Daily Mail.
‘His side gifted Watford a goal and a route back into the game at Vicarage Road.’
The first they conceded came just four seconds after Bernd Leno had taken a goal kick with Arsenal’s defence failing to string the passes together and allowing Cleverley the simplest of finishes on his 200th Premier League appearance.
‘They shot themselves in the foot,’ Keown added.
‘Sokratis was the culprit who gave the ball away in between. “Pass it out” may be the message from management but as a player, there are times on the pitch when you simply have to trust your gut. You have to use that instinct and realise that, sometimes, it is not worth the risk.
‘Nicolas Otamendi learned that the hard way for Manchester City at Norwich and Sokratis learned it yesterday, too.
‘Arsenal capitulated after conceding that goal. Their passing game disintegrated. They didn’t know whether to lump it long or continue to try to play it short.’
Arsenal still lead with nine minutes to go before David Luiz, signed from Chelsea in the summer to add experience to the defence, gave away a penalty that Pereyra converted.
‘[Luiz’s] list of mistakes is growing longer by the week,’ Keown said.
‘In the end, Arsenal were fortunate to escape with a point against Watford.
‘There was a time when this club led the way defensively.
‘I don’t know how many more years we will have to wait to say that again.
‘Not for the first time, Arsenal were architects of their own downfall.’
