It was a performance to forget for Unai Emery’s Arsenal, as they blew a 2-0 lead to last placed Watford FC.
The Gunners defensive issues continued to show as they allowed two goals to a team that had only scored two goals in four matches before the match.
It was a slow start as Arsenal looked slow moving the ball around in the beginning of the game, as Watford were full of energy and pounced on every move the Gunners made.
But it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who grabbed the first goal, completely against the run of play. Sead Kolasinac drove the ball into space before passing the ball to Aubameyang, who turned quickly on the ball before blasting it past Ben Foster.
The goal seemingly brought Emery’s side to life, as they began to pick apart Watford’s shambolic defense. Only 11 minutes passed before Aubameyang scored his second of the match, as Mesut Özil skillfully played Ainsley Maitland-Niles through on the right as the fullback played the ball across the box for Aubameyang to tap home.
Özil had yet to feature for Arsenal this season before being picked for the starting XI this match, and with his playmaking ability he showed why he was missed.
Arsenal controlled the first half but as the second half began, it was as if the first half had never happened. The Gunners could not get the ball out of their own half, as Watford forced goal kick after goal kick.
Emery’s tactic of playing the ball out of the back was costing Arsenal possession as the Hornets brought constant pressure. Eventually, it cost them their first goal as Sokratis gave the ball away Gerard Deulofeu who passed it to Tom Cleverly for the simple finish.
It was downhill from there for the Arsenal as they continued to fall apart. Emery made questionable substitutes, taking off Dani Ceballos for Joe Willock, Matteo Guendouzi for Lucas Torreira, and Mesut Özil for Reiss Nelson.
The Gunners were heavily outnumbered in the middle, and each substitution did nothing to fix their problems.
Watford continued to berate Bernd Leno’s goal with shots, but were unable to find the back of the net. Not until David Luiz conceded his second penalty in three games, bringing down Roberto Pereyra in the box.
Pereyra won the penalty, and took the penalty, sending Leno the wrong way and sending Vicarage Road into a frenzy.
Arsenal, in a game that could have seen them climb to third place level on points with Manchester City, fall to seventh place, level on points with Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, and Chelsea.
Emery will receive a large portion of the blame for this loss, as his tactics going into the match were questioned from the beginning.
The Gunners next match sees them host 18th placed Aston Villa, who play West Ham tomorrow. Arsenal’s match against Villa kicks off at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 22.
