Deeney still gunning for opposition

TROY DEENEY has got the green light to carry on speaking his mind – especially with Arsenal coming up on Sunday.

Watford’s talismanic captain upset the Gunners with his post-match comments about their lack of backbone after Deeney’s intervention from the bench inspired the Hornets’ 2-1 win at Vicarage Road last October.

Nearly all susbsequent events have arguably proved him right – Arsenal are now 33 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

There will be a hint of revenge on the agenda when Deeney’s side visits the Emirates. But Hornets head coach Javi Gracia admits he likes his captain’s honesty

– even if it rubbed

Gunners fans up the wrong way.

Gracia said: “Troy is our captain and a very good player.

Everyone is free to explain feelings and a point of view as he wants – I like this way.

“I don’t know what happened with him and the squad in the past and I don’t care. If you say something about what happened in the past, you are talking about different coaches – I prefer only to think about the future for Troy and all the players.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has lost at home to Watford in each of the last two seasons, felt a controversial penalty was the turning point of his side’s defeat at Vicarage Road five months ago.

But Deeney (above), who has scored three goals in his last four games, famously retorted: “I’m not one to tell Mr Wenger about himself, but there’s a reason they lost and it wasn’t one penalty.

“I have to watch what I say, but having a bit of cojones, I think the word is. A bit of nuts.”