Arsenal lack a bit of nuts, says Deeney

LONDON: Watford’s Troy Deeney has accused Arsenal’s stars of lacking fight after the Gunners crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at Vicarage Road. Deeney scored Watford’s second-half equaliser with a penalty and Tom Cleverley capped the hosts’ fightback with a stoppage-time winner.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was furious with what he felt was a ‘scandalous’ decision to award the spot-kick for Hector Bellerin’s challenge on Richarlison.

But Deeney mocked Wenger’s complaints and insisted Arsenal should be more concerned with the way they were bullied into surrendering the lead by Watford’s physical approach.

“I’ve heard Wenger’s already blaming (the decision) as the reason why they lost,” Deeney said.

“I’m not going to be the one to tell Mr Wenger about himself, but there’s a reason why they lost and it wasn’t because of one penalty. I’ll have to watch what I say. It’s (having) a bit of cojones, a bit of nuts.”

BARCELONA DRAW

MADRID: Barcelona forward Luis Suarez preserved his side’s unbeaten record by scoring a late header, in 82nd minute, to snatch a 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid as the leaders’ perfect start to the season ended. Saul Niguez gave Atletico the lead in the 21st minute.

The Wanda Metropolitano stadium was packed with Spain flags as tensions from Catalonia’s referendum on independence continued to be felt.