Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Watford: 5 things we learned – Bernd Leno, here’s your chance

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Bernd Leno of Arsenal comes on as a substitute for Petr Cech during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Bernd Leno of Arsenal comes on as a substitute for Petr Cech during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford challenges for the ball with Rob Holding of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 29: Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford challenges for the ball with Rob Holding of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

3. Well, it was a clean sheet… kind of

Arsenal kept their second clean sheet of the season with the 2-0 win over Watford. It wasn’t all that convincing.

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Watford missed a series of excellent chances and Bernd Leno especially made several necessary saves to keep the sheet clean. But credit should be given to the Arsenal defence, especially one Rob Holding.

Watford attempted to bombard the penalty area with crosses from out wide. They attempted 27 crosses in total, 20 of which came from the two full backs. And Holding and Mustafi were equal to all of them. Six clearances apiece, two blocks between the two of them and five interceptions, a well as five aerial duels won each. This was a very good defensive effort.

That said, Watford were still able to create chances. It wasn’t as if Holding’s efforts were wholly stifling. And Arsenal did ride their luck to prevent their visitors from scoring a little. But they also got a cleam sheet, and that, this season, is very nice to see indeed.