Arsenal Vs. Watford: Score, Recap And Highlights

Arsenal achieved their first win of the Premier League season on Saturday with a 3-1 win away at Watford. Here is all you need to know from the match, including a full recap and match highlights.

Watford 1 – 3 Arsenal

It was an entertaining match on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal eased to a 3-1 win over Watford. With much of the pre-match media focusing on the impending additions of Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi, two potential future stars for the Gunners, it was time for the current stars to remind everyone of their preposterous talent.

This was the match where Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez laid down their marker as the kings of the Emirates, once again. The two were magnificent, linking up repeatedly as Sanchez drifted wide left from his central position, often playing neat one-twos with Ozil, wriggling his way through a forest of Watford legs on multiple occasions.

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The two linked up for the opening penalty, showing an innate understanding of each other’s game. Ozil picked up the ball in the inside left channel, took a touch and looked up to see Sanchez peeling away to the back post. A clipped ball toward the Chilean ultimately led to Amrabat of Watford barging into the back of Sanchez and giving away a penalty in the process. Santi Cazorla stepped up, with Theo Walcott on the pitch who crucially missed a penalty on the opening weekend of the season, and slotted home calmly.

The second came from a wonderful move down the right-hand side, which saw Walcott released towards the by-line. A fabulous whipped in cross made its way through to Sanchez at the back post who bundled it home in a rather awkward fashion and double the lead. The third came soon after when Sanchez, who had once again drifted out wide to the left-hand side, held up the ball, waited for runners, and after a few seconds clipped in a cross that the onrushing Ozil headed home in powerful fashion.

At the break, there was an air of authority about the Arsenal side, but it was not to last. Letting their foot off the gas, Watford grew into the game in a much improved second half performance. They pressed the ball with far more vigour and intensity, unsettled the Arsenal midfield and got the much-rewarded goal when new signing Roberto Pereyra converted a penalty box scramble from an Etienne Capoue shot.

It was a more nervy second half for the Gunners, though, they eventually ran out winners in fairly comfortable style. The first win of the season is to be celebrated, but there is much more yet to be done this season.

Match Highlights

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