3️⃣ points as Watford fight back to claim point against Arsenal | OneFootball

Watford produced a stirring second half fightback to pick up a point against Arsenal on Quique Sánchez Flores’ return.

We look at what we learned from a breathless contest …

Unai’s odd substitutions

At 2-0 at half-time, the game was all but in the bag for Arsenal.

Then Emery and his spectacular in-game mismanagement took over to hamstring his own team as Watford began to take control.

His first decision was to take out Dani Ceballos, who had enjoyed a good game up to that point and looked none too pleased about that decision.

You couldn’t blame him either. Matteo Guendouzi was next to be hauled ashore and his foolishness in gesturing the score at that point (2-1) to the home fans was always going to come back to bite him.

But taking out that duo who could at least exert some control on the contest was bizarre, all the more so when Mesut Özil was left in despite tiring in his first game of the season.

Even when the German was withdrawn, too late as it was, his replacement Reiss Nelson was completely ineffective and was the third and final misuse of a change.

A small word of consolation must go to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who deserves better than what he has behind him.

Central defensive comedy show

Arsenal fans have a long season of tearing their hair out ahead of them watching Sokratis and David Luiz.

We’ll start with the Greek and his utterly ridiculous pass for Watford’s first goal, aided by partner in crime Bernd Leno between the posts.

They had almost been caught out in the first half along with Guendouzi from a slack short goal kick but they didn’t learn their lesson – either before or after the error.

Despite never looking comfortable when receiving it in his own box, Sokratis continually tried to start attacks and was eventually and predictably punished.

It took until the 64th minute before Leno decided that maybe he would be better served going longer from goal kicks.

As for the Brazilian alongside him, is there anyone who is even surprised by his rash antics anymore?

Quique can turn this around

Quique Sánchez Flores obviously knew before returning to the job his task would be harder this time around.

But if his first game since making his way back to Vicarage Road, he had an instant impact, providing that oft-reliable new manager bounce.

The first half was more of the same sloppiness from the Hornets but they were a different animal entirely after the interval.

They forced Arsenal back, gave no man in red breathing room on the ball and exposed the weaknesses that have been all too apparent for too long.

Watford were first to everything, ran themselves ragged and ended the game with a record 31 attempts on the Arsenal goal.

In fact, they really should have won this one but when the likes of Troy Deeney return to the side, they should soon begin to rise up the table.

There is too much quality in the squad for that not to happen if they can replicate this kind of performance.