No case for the defence as Arsenal are guilty of blowing it again SCORER AUBAMEYANG LEFT SHAKING HEAD
SOMEHOW they managed to throw it away in the most Arsenal way imaginable.
Two goals up and cruising, the Gunners pressed the selfdestruct button.
When will they ever learn? You begin to wonder whether Unai Emery can teach them or if the problems are so deep-seated the fans will have to wait for a new generation to come through.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang trudged over to the away end after the final whistle, shaking his head in despair and wondering how on earth he could score twice and still end up not winning.
But Watford’s new boss Quique Sanchez Flores inspired a second half full of passion which was exactly the opposite WATFORD ARSENAL of Arsenal’s surrender. It has to be one of the worst 45 minutes from a team that will be witnessed in the Premier League this season.
No wonder the travelling fans booed them off the pitch after Watford had whipped up an atmosphere that will have left Flores believing the mood of their season can change.
Arsenal faced 31 shots, the most they have faced since Opta stats began in 2003-04, and with a defence as weak as this it was obvious they were going to ship goals. We are already losing count of how many David Luiz has given away – he conceded an idiotic penalty – and Arsenal gambling on playing out from the back cost them the first goal.
Emery must take his share of the blame because his substitutions were terrible – his decision to take off the excellent Dani Ceballos was booed while leaving on Nicolas Pepe was bizarre considering he contributed so little.
But Aubameyang was clinical and his first goal came after 22 minutes when Ceballos won a tackle, Sead Kolasinac led a charge and played a perfect pass. Aubameyang’s turn was beautifully simple and gave him the space to prod home.
Ten minutes later Arsenal scored a goal which showed what they are capable of when they put their minds to it: a wonderful move with 20 passes in the build-up before Aubameyang scored again for his 14th goal in his past 14 games.
It should have been game over. But Arsenal made a mess of a short goal-kick for a third time, Bernd Leno playing it to Sokratis only for his pass to be intercepted by Gerard Deulofeu,
who teed up Tom Cleverley to smash in after 53 minutes.
The goal changed the mood and Emery’s substitutions did not help. Attack after attack pinned Arsenal back and they were clinging on.
Watford got their well-deserved leveller after 81 minutes.
Luiz made a stupid challenge, dangling a leg which tripped Roberto Pereyra and the substitute stepped up to fire home from the spot. Abdoulaye Doucoure could have won it but Leno prevented an even bigger embarrassment.