WENGER: DON’T RULE OUT A TITLE SURGE
ARSENE WENGER knows a thing or two about late title runs. In 1998, Arsenal won 10 games in succession to pip Manchester United to the crown. Four years later, the Gunners won 13 successive top-flight games to win their second championship under Wenger. Arsenal require another run of victories to have a chance this season — and even that is unlikely to be enough. On Saturday it was a stroll, goals by Alexis Sanchez, Alex Iwobi, Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott seeing off Watford. To have any realistic hope of pipping Leicester and Tottenham, Arsenal will need to win their remaining seven games. Can they assemble a nine-match winning streak? The jury’s out, particularly given the winter slump that has seen their season crumble. Nevertheless, in their manager, Arsenal have someone who has been there, seen it and done it. ‘To go on a late run, you need to find a team who click at the right moment,’ said Wenger. ‘Sometimes you have all kinds of reasons: because your injured players come back like Danny Welbeck, because of the emergence of some players like Alex Iwobi. ‘In 1998 we had a game in hand and suddenly we had a good run. We played at Wimbledon and the electricity went off, the game was cancelled and we won when it was replayed. We won at Man United and suddenly people thought it was possible. ‘This time we have to fight two teams. But before we speak about that, we have to show we can sustain a strong run. I feel the technical quality of our game and the pace are good. That’s a good basis.’ Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores has told his side to forget about their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace. He said: ‘It’s not about Wembley, it’s more about the sum of points in the league.’
SUPER STAT: All three of Hector Bellerin’s Premier League goals have come at the Emirates Stadium.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina 7; Bellerin 7.5, Gabriel 6, Koscielny 6.5, Monreal 7; Coquelin 8, Elneny 8; Iwobi 8.5 (Walcott 73min, 7), Ozil 7.5, Alexis 7.5 (Campbell 78, 6); Welbeck 7 (Giroud 68, 6). Subs not
used: Gibbs, Mertesacker, Chambers, Cech. Booked: Elneny.
Scorers: Sanchez 4, Iwobi 38, Bellerin 48, Walcott 89.
WATFORD (4-4-2): Gomes 7; Nyom 6, Prodl 5, Cathcart 6, Ake 6; Capoue 4 (Anya 40, 6), Watson 6, Suarez 6.5, Abdi 5 (Guedioura 68, 5); Deeney 6.5, Ighalo 4 (Amrabat 46, 5). Subs not used: Britos, Jurado, Pantilimon, Berghuis.
Booked: Nyom.
Man of the match: Alex Iwobi. Referee: Anthony Taylor 7.