Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Holding, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Wilshere, Elneny, Coquelin, Giroud
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It was a tale of two halves as three first half goals were enough to secure our first win over the season, running out 3-1 winners over Watford at Vicarage Road this afternoon.
Arsene Wenger recalled Mesut Ozil to the starting line-up, with Granit Xhaka and Santi Cazorla behind him in the midfield. After a relatively slow start, Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 8th minute when Amrabat clothes-lined Alexis Sanchez in the area, and Kevin Friend pointed to the spot.
Santi Cazorla stepped up and hit the ball straight down the middle as Gomes dived out of the way. 1-0. The Watford fans booed every time the Chilean had the ball after that, as if he elbowed himself in the head.
Cazorla was involved again when he latched onto an Alexis pass to shoot across goal. Theo Walcott did well to get on the end of it at the far post, but saw his effort saved by the knees of the Watford keeper.
At the other end Petr Cech pulled off a fantastic save from Laurent Koscielny, the defender’s attempted clearance volleyed towards his own goal but the Czech stood up well and palmed it away. It prompted a good spell for the home side who forced Arsenal into some stout defending, not least of which was an amazing tackle from Santi Cazorla.
Kabasele flicked a header wide from a Watford corner, before a fantastic run and combination with Ozil gave Alexis a sight of goal, but Gomes saved with his feet. Ozil had a pop which the Brazilian saved at his near post, but moments later the lead was doubled.
Arsenal’s build-up play in midfield was excellent, Bellerin fed it to Walcott whose cross to the back post was mis-kicked over the line by Alexis. Not the best finish of his career, but he won’t care how they go in. 2-0.
A beautiful Granit Xhaka pass, hardly his first of the game either, set up Walcott for a chance but again Gomes made a good save. And the Swiss international was involved in the third a few seconds later when he freed Alexis down the left. The Chilean spotted the run of Ozil and picked him out perfectly, allowing the German to thump home a close ranger header for 3-0.
It was the perfect end to an almost perfect half for the Gunners. The second began with a change for Watford, with record signing Roberto Pereyra replacing Guedioura, but it was Arsenal who threatened first, Walcott drilling a ball across the 6 yard box but no teammate was on hand to tuck it home.
The home side made another change just 6 minutes into the second period when Janmaat replaced Kabasele. Briliant work from Bellerin down the right saw his cross fizz just in front of Alexis, before Capoue tested Cech with a shot from distance but the keeper was right behind it.
In the 56th minute though, Watford got one back. After Oxlade-Chamberlain was caught out of position down the left, a cross into the box bounced around, fell to Pereyra, and the debutant finished from close range with his left foot. 1-3.
At the other end Walcott chipped an effort over the bar as he spotted the keeper off his line, and Oxlade-Chamberlain wasted a brilliant Arsenal break by doing the exact same thing when he had Walcott and Alexis outside him for a tap-in to an empty net.
It might have proved very costly when Watford had a great chance to pull another one back moments later. Cech made a good save from a shot from outside the box, but it looked dangerous when the ball fell to Ighalo only for the striker to fluff his lines and the Arsenal keeper to grab hold of the ball.
Arsene Wenger made two changes in the 70th minute, with Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain replaced by Jack Wilshere and Mohamed Elneny. Ighalo almost brought the game back into the home side’s grasp with an overhead kick that flew just over the bar.
Nacho Monreal looked to pick up an ankle injury, forcing Wenger into his third and final change as Kieran Gibbs came on in his place. Watford made their final change, bringing on Isaac Success who had a header on target from a corner with more or less his first touch.
Arsenal were a bit ragged, failing to reach the heights of the first half, and left themselves open in midfield a bit too much. Behrami dragged a shot wide from the edge of the box, and at the other end Alexis was the third player to fail to chip Gomes after his own hard work robbed the ball from Kaboul high up the pitch (and he too could have passed to Walcott who was in acres of space).
Five minutes of injury time played out without much happening, and in the end there’s little doubt Arsenal deserved the points.
Quick! Good result!
With lots of players (Ramsey, Merts, Gabriel, Giroud, Iwobi) to come back or play more we are looking in decent shape. Plus the signings…
and Welbz!
Loved the bit where Alexis was making a motion to calm the team down after Bellerin pressed the ball into touch ?
Much better link up and movement from the front 3. Chamberlain probably the least effective. Walcott looked sharp and the real Alexis is returning.
Charlie, your speed getting to the keyboard first reminded me of your famous FA Cup goal back in the day.
Thank you…:-)
A much needed 3 points. A great first half, but second half we were poor. We just couldn’t hold onto the ball. Other teams would have punished us. We need a fit striker to start the next game. Monreal came off limping. Hope it’s not serious. COYG!
3 needed points. i thought holding looked good again. and how fucking good is mesut ozil?!
He did give the ball away a few times but I fucking love him.
Yes, but in my books, he more than made up for it with his goal and his ozhist
Agreed Sir.
and xhaka!…what a fantastic range of passing from midfield. inch perfect long balls to instantly turn defense to attack. Quite a footballer he is imo.
he had some excellent passes today and he loves a slide tackle doesn’t he
walcott was excellent today runnign out and fighting 90 miniutes and he didn’t have the luck to score today. Also will benefit much more fro xhaka balls from deep he will terrorize defense when they learn that xhaka will always pick up his runs.
I score that 3rd goal all the time in FIFA – late Ozil run, header to the back post. Every time I chuckle ruefully and say to myself “stupid EA, as if Arsenal would ever score a goal like THAT.”
So much for that…
Love me some Mesut and Alexis.
Good three points, hopefully we can start replicating the first half performance on a more consistent basis. COYG!
Wooh, yay, hoorah!!!
Really impressed by the win and good performance overall. Special mention to Walcott who was excellent today. If he can be consistent he can be an important player for Arsenal. On the whole the entire team played well today. COYG.
Walcott was immense today. Why the fuck can’t he play like that every week.
Because we don’t face Watford every week?
Hah, can’t argue with that logic.
He put in so much more work, though, than we’ve been accustomed to and played with some actual aggression and even used his strength once. Looked like he’s playing for his place and hopefully he carries it on, but I’ve seen so many false dawns from Walcott that I’ll remain sceptical. Still, kudos to him for a good game today, along with Xhaka, Ozil and Alexis.
Is this a joke, how was he immense?
Maybe ‘immense’ is slightly OTT, but I get the sentiments of the comment. I was impressed with his work rate today and his movement was also very good. Unfortunately the goalkeeper made a good save against his volley in the first half and he hit a poor shot in the second, but there were a few occasions where a bit of composure from the other front players would’ve put him in for great chances.
A working Walcott is IMMENSE! Such a player when he can be arsed, imagine he realised he would end up at a shite club and got his shit together. Imagine he turned it on on a weekly basis? Imagine a random hat trick v Croatia became the norm.
How much would a consistent Walcott cost in this market????
compared to what he usually contributes, his game today WAS immense
He actually muscled a defender out of the way at least once. I thought he had a good game. And the cross for the Alexis goal was very good.
Yeah it’s a puzzle. Somebody needs to figure out what it is that puts the boot up his arse and do it every game because he obviously has the potential there to actually be good, he just doesn’t seem to get going in 7 out of 10 games.
Lucas Perez lol
i think Walcott may have a good season if he keeps this kind of form and attitude. in 3 games he assisted 2 and scored 1 which is very decent. dont really understand the hate around him but if he keeps this up he will be very usefull
man I was starting to forget what its like to have Mesut. Sanchez again was his best when roaming out to left hand side. Xhaka’s long balls are also top notch.
still I couldnt help but sigh “poor Campbell” every awful touch Chamberlain made. he actually brought some dimesion to the team at both ends instead of wasting great team efforts and gifting chances to opposition.
First thoughts…. it was good and much more to come after the international break!
COYG!
Wow that really was a game of two halves!
I was just saying to my mate how nice it was not having that sick feeling in my throat as my stomach tried to jump out of it at 0-3 up. As soon as we lost that goal and the second half developed that oh so familiar feeling came back.
Good 3 points though!
Better, decent away result. Very good 1st half performance, although Watford were poor too.
2nd half showed a but of resilience and could have had a couple on the break with better finishing and final ball decision making.
Walcott better today, Granit looked good, Cazorla makes a difference as does Ozil and Sanchez very good.
Bellerin was quality going forward and the centre backs look good as a pair so far.
Ox still not really producing anything of note and Monreal been done for pace a few times this season but overall well done boys.
Good win.
Many ppl didn’t want Xhaka to play and he was really good. Great that he played alongside Cazorla in the middle. Hope Sanchez returns to the wing after the intl. break, he looked very dangerous when he moved there today. Giroud/Perez to start up front next game!
Good win. I feel half the team is still not quite there with the fitness levels, and that showed in the second half. But that will improve as the season progresses, and the new players come in.
Xhaka man of the match for me.
Very few negatives really, think the Watford second half surge was to be expected and aside from the comedy defending on the goal, we held them off comfortably in truth.
Ozil and Xhaka shone, Alexis looked much happier with all his pals back and Walcott was dangerous and busy working back, which does have to be noted as he gets dogs abuse if he’s even average in a game, so deserves credit for his good start to this season.
Ox however…that’s Giroud or Perez in next game i think now.
Ox seemed to be competing with himself to see which he could do more often, be in the wrong place or dribble himself.
Ox really needs some end product and not just for his hair
Who keeps thumbing down all comments ?!
Who cares?
It’s the internet
Spurs fan making mischief perhaps
Let’s find them….Bastards!
maybe they are hitting the red for the Arsenal
man I was starting to forget what its like to have Mesut. Xhaka’s long balls are also top notch.
still I couldnt help but sigh “poor Campbell” every awful touch Chamberlain made. he actually brought some dimesion to the team at both ends instead of wasting great team efforts and gifting chances to opposition.
Great performance from xhaka. Very encouraging. And oh mesut…
Where would we be without that magical Turkish-German fella? He truly solidifies the club and makes the perfect passes. Love the guy and what he provides for the team every week.
three players, three chips, and three misses! we should not have sold Vela!!!
Someone please explain how is that Chamberlan’s in first 11 and Campbell out on loan?
The explanation is we have Lucas!
I don’t get it
Lucas is better than both hopefully.
When Lucas Perez and Giroud comes into the team and competes for the striker spot, Alexis will move out on the left again, and Ox will move to the bench or off-bench squad. Campbell is older and needs playing time more.
(Still would have liked him to stay and put Walcott under pressure on the right. But he’ll play more often and even have CL football, so that’s a good deal for him.)
The return of a revitalised Gnabry will put an end to that.
A very welcome 3 points! Welcome back Mesut. #COYG
Jolly good, nice to be up and running. A clean sheet would’ve been nice, but it’s also nice to see us not panic and see the game out after they got one back.
Incidentally, whoever decided we should wear black & yellow against an opponent wearing yellow & black deserves a slap. How is that a clearer difference than, I don’t know, wearing red?
Yeah madness wasn’t it? Has to be the marketing shit encroaching on the actual football again.
Game over…let the Walcott bashing start
The first time we got re-acquainted with the famous ‘ladder’ in a long time: 3 passes and shoot! Not every team will be as open as Watford but this bodes very well. And Granit’s passing is (ahem) rock solid
Nice touch from Alexis to run over to hug Walcott, giving him the credit for a fine assist.
Always makes me smile when our players are happy 🙂
Ozil looked surprised he scored with a header.
Great result, onwards and upwards now.
Looking foward to seeing our new signings after the international break.
Cazorla switching feet while taking a freekick was fun to watch ..
I still believe he is much better at taking corners with his right foot. Never seen him deliver a neat one with his left.
Xhaka pinging inch perfect passes from every which way was a beauty to watch. Watford manager changed the game in the second half with the switch to a back four and snuffing out space for our attacking line. Holding is so assured in the back; has slotted in perfectly- what an amazing buy. Walcott played his heart out and made some amazing runs. Good game overall.
I am struggling to account for the 45m difference in value between Stones and Holding.
We have a shite winger. Apart from them wingers, brie-liant!!
Great game, but we’ve had poor second half in our games so far and that need to be address. Walcott did good, Xhaka is great on the ball but could do better off the ball although, he’s getting use to English football.all in all, wonderful performance today.
Good 3 points but our tackling, pressing and challenges for 50/50 balls was beyond terrible.
Ox is hands down the worst player in our squad. Can’t defend, trap ball, play one-twos, or beat his man for a cross. Like…. What does he do?
Disappointing not to get the clean sheet, as is the fact that we looked panicked when Watford broke forward. On the other hand some very nice attacking play from us is nice to see after the last two weeks.
And Perez and Mustafi deals are finally officially done : )
Santi Cazorla’s tackle
Just like his son.
Get IN!!!!
I’d like Theo to maintain that form please. And shouldnt Amrabat have been given a straight red for that blow on the head to Alexis? That was nasty. Also, Mesut’s just getting warmed up, gooners! 🙂
Kos whistling for Santi to change his kicking foot was fun.
Where on earth is Yaya ?
In rehab?
Well done lads! Theo, Ozil, Alexis and Cazorla all played great first half. Second half a touch worrying but it’ll get better as the team gels back together.
Walcott fizzing those deep low crosses that are just begging for Giroud’s trademark near-post run and flick goal. That Alexis cross to Ozil was head-of-a-pin stuff. Beautiful. Ox ran out of steam 2nd half and his backtracking suffered as a result.
Our midfield was so calm and composed with Xhaka and Santi. I thought we had Elneny pressing too high late on leaving us more open at the back.
Bellerin was right, the goals indeed came. More please. Good to see our massive 42.3m media professed ‘panic buy’ score (and almost got a couple more too) Much prefer Santi deeper linking play. Our other well forgotten buy of the season Granit with some excellent pin point long balls. As I mentioned Wenger bought him not just to give competition to Coquelin (Elneny is not yet a DM) but also to provide an offensive capability springing us into attack quicker with accurate long range delivery (something we missed terribly without Santi last season) Only sore point would be Monreal’s ankles.… Read more »
I’m falling in love with Granit Xhaka. Someone please explain to me why Pogba is apparently worth about three times as much.
Xhaka’s passes would probably impregnate a cow and we’d sign more Xhakas but for the Coq and Egyptian King.
Quite simple, Arsenal play when Ramsey don’t play
Simply not true. Our win % with him in the team is far FAR higher.
No. It is not. I crunched last season’s numbers a while back and the key variable isn’t whether Ramsey is in the team, it is rather where he plays.
Win percentage DROPS with Ramsey playing in the middle.
The Arsenal midfield functions well with one advanced playmaking position, one deeper-lying link-up man and a holding midfielder.
Ramsey thinks he’s a forward. He clogs up spaces that should be available to the team’s real forwards and when he moves into advanced positions, he screws his holding midfielder partner.
He should be sold now while he’s still worth something.
Much needed result, but I’m not convinced by our play. Let’s be honest: Watford were REALLY POOR: 1) what decent CB gives away a pen on an aerial duel with Alexis? 2) Prodl looks at the ball to clear and then let’s it run across for Alexis to clear… 3) Ozil runs 20 yards past 4 defenders to head home while they nap. Good on us for taking advantage, but we played the same ‘Around the outside’ game that better teams will neutralize when we could have been attacking thru the middle. Positives: Xhaka looks like a boss in midfield… Read more »
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That ozil goals is one of those u gotta watch live to really appreciate it. It left me jaw dropping, outta nowhere
Yes what a run ffs!
Especially from someone that doesn’t “ran around a lot”!
Alexis spotted that Ozil run and made that goal with his sublime pass.
Our Albanian Swissman was excellent, superb touch, great vision and finally we have someone who can pass a long ball. Any team can play well when they’re 3:0 down… But the Nigerian with the pineapple on his head showed some good touches.
….apart from when he wandered off side when he could have scored mate??
If you can make runs behind defenders, then having xhaka can be so much of an asset.
Manure are not as good as I thought they would be…. struggled against hull,gooners better believe… COYG
_Not a word for Holding above all these comments … ? I thought he looked very good and at times it was difficult to think he’s just playing his 3rd game in EPL and still very young. Very composed and disciplined, hardly done anything wrong.
Also true like many people said, credit to Walcott ; he was very good today. Why can’t he play like that week in week out ? Biggest mystery of all these years
I agree completely. I though Holding was very good.
It was almost – ALMOST – that I thought “Why are we bringing in Mustafi? We have Holding!”. Then I realised we only have three fit centre backs… And Gabriel haven’t really looked the part when he was fit.