Watford end Gunners' two-year FA Cup reign by inflicting stunning 2-1 quarter-final defeat in their own backyard; next up for Londoners is Barcelona in Champions League and Everton in EPL
London: A potentially defining seven days in Arsene Wenger's Arsenal reign started with FA Cup defeat as Watford knocked out the holders in their quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reacts on the touchline as his team concedes their second goal against Watford in the FA Cup quarter-final at Emirates Stadium in London yesterday. Pics/AFP
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With murmurs of discontent becoming full-blown cries of derision in recent weeks as Arsenal lurched from one insipid display to another, Wenger needed a result here — and not only to continue in his quest to lift a third-successive FA Cup.
But it was not to be as second-half goals from Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura put the Hornets on course for a Wembley semi-final. Danny Welbeck's late goal gave hope to the hosts, but he followed it up with an incredible miss, which sealed a 2-1 defeat and spelt the end of a 37-month unbeaten run in the competition.
Crucial seven days
Arsenal must overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit when they travel to face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday and could be as many as 11 points off top spot in the Barclays Premier League before turning out at Everton next weekend.
A stunned Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud and midfielder Mesut Ozil (right) prepare for the restart after conceding the first goal against Watford in the FA Cup quarter-final at Emirates Stadium in London yesterday
Wenger knew how important this game was as he recalled both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. He had voiced concerns over how his defence would handle Ighalo and Troy Deeney, and he was right to be fearful as both shone.
Arsenal were enjoying most of the ball without testing Hornets goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon and the hosts were lucky not to be reduced to 10 men before the half-hour mark as Gabriel appeared to go into a challenge two-footed on Deeney, only for referee Andre Marriner to wave play-on.
Either side of the challenge, Watford had wasted the ball in good positions, Ighalo twice failing to pick a simple pass to strike partner Deeney on the edge of the Arsenal box.
Ozil in form
Meanwhile, Ozil set up the second Elneny chance with a glorious piece of skill and another wonderful pass sent Joel Campbell through but he scooped it over the crossbar.
Ighalo may have been unable to square an easy pass to Deeney, but bagged his 16th of the season, firing past David Ospina after Deeney headed Nathan Ake's throw-in into his path. Watford soon took the game away from the holders as Deeney held off Per Mertesacker before teeing up Guedioura to flash a bullet of a shot past Ospina.
Wenger reacted by bringing on Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi and Welbeck and the latter pulled a goal back having been played in by a superb Ozil back-heel. But, he then spurned the chance to level. missing a near-open goal at the end.
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