Arsenal fell to just their second home Premier League defeat of the season on Tuesday evening, as Watford earned a shock 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Goals from Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney put the Hornets two up inside the opening 13 minutes, but it could have been even better had Petr Cech not pulled off a string of first-half saves.
The Gunners dominated things in the second 45 minutes, pulling one back through Alex Iwobi shortly before the hour but failing to find a second and third in the remainder.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded in North London with Sports Mole's live coverage.
Hello and welcome to to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Arsenal and Watford at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners head into this match on the back of a positive run of form, particularly on home soil as they have won five top-flight games in a row and have now gone 10 without defeat since the opening day. The visitors, on the other hand, have just one win in 10 and crashed out of the FA Cup to third-tier opposition at the weekend.
It is a big night of Premier League action, as leaders Chelsea face off against another of the division's heavyweight sides in Liverpool. The Reds' recent form would suggest a one-sided affair at Anfield, but I am sure that will not prove to be the case on Merseyside, with each member of the chasing pack keeping one eye on developments on that match. Defeat for the pacesetters would blow things wide open - just about - but victory and it is one more hurdle overcome en route to the title.
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL XI: Cech; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Ramsey; Iwobi, Ozil, Alexis; Giroud
WATFORD XI: Gomes; Cathcart, Kaboul, Prodl, Britos; Behrami; Janmaat, Cleverley, Capoue, Niang; Deeney
Starting with a look at the visiting side, manager Walter Mazzarri has made nine changes from that FA Cup upset at The Den a couple of days back. The Italian's hand was forced a little due to the quick turnover in matches this week, although it should be pointed out that the Hornets took the decision to play this fixture today, giving them an extra day's rest prior to the meeting with Burnley next weekend.
Among those to come in is debutant M'Baye Niang, who joined on an initial loan deal from AC Milan earlier this week. Just a couple of training sessions under his belt, but the Hornets are in desperate need of some extra quality in the final third of the field and they will be hoping that he is the man to provide it. Heurelho Gomes, who has conceded more goals against Arsenal - 23 in eight games - than any other side he has faced, returns between the sticks.
Craig Cathcart, Valon Behrami, Darryl Janmaat, Tom Cleverley, Etienne Capoue and Troy Deeney also return to the side, as does Sebastian Prodl who was left out for the fourth-round tie. Among the nine players to make way for Watford are injured deputy keeper Costel Pantilimon, Adrian Mariappa, Brandon Mason, Ben Watson and Stefano Okaka. Jose Holebas and another new recruit in Mauro Zarate both miss out due to suspension; the former accumulating 10 yellow cards and the latter carrying over a ban from his time in Italy.
Switching focus to the home team now, boss Arsene Wenger has made just the one change to what has been a winning league formula. It is an enforced change, as Granit Xhaka - suspended after his latest red card last time out - is replaced in the engine room by Francis Coquelin. Other than that it is as you were - Aaron Ramsey joining the Frenchman in deep midfield, while Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil occupy the attacking berths.
That means a place upfront for Olivier Giroud, whose five goals in his last six outings has forced Wenger's hand a little. Sanchez was thriving in the False 9 role, but the Frenchman has since come in and taken over the scoring duties, helping the Gunners climb back into second place in recent weeks. Sanchez is certainly one to watch today, though, having scored in all three Premier League games against Watford since joining the club.
Theo Walcott was in line for a first Premier League appearance in six weeks after impressing on his comeback in midweek, scoring three times against Southampton as Arsenal cruised to a 5-0 win over Southampton. The Englishman is being eased back into action and is only fit enough for a place on the bench, though, while Danny Welbeck - the scorer of two goals at St Mary's - misses out completely. A little on the cautious side from Wenger, but can you really blame him?
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lucas Perez, Walcott
WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Mariappa, Mason, Watson, Doucoure, Success, Okaka
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain certainly enjoyed themselves against Southampton at the weekend, but they both drop back down to the bench for this one, as does another of the attacking options in Lucas Perez. Hector Bellerin is struggling to force his way back into the team, meanwhile, and Kieran Gibbs provides back-up on the other flank. The visitors have Isaac Success and Stefano Okaka among their subs, but there is no place for the suspended Mauro Zarate.
Arsene Wenger made 10 changes to his Arsenal side for the FA Cup win over Southampton in midweek, a plan that could have backfired but worked perfectly in the end, but it is back to his strongest-available XI today. Francis Coquelin comes in for the suspended Granit Xhaka from the 2-1 win over Burnley, while Walter Mazzarri makes four alterations from Watford's 2-2 draw at Bournemouth just over a week ago.
The Gunners will see this as an opportunity to potentially close the gap on league leaders Chelsea, then, knowing that the Blues face a tricky test at Anfield this evening. Wenger will just be focused on his own side for the time being, and he certainly has plenty to smile about as his charges have enjoyed an impressive campaign to date. The 5-0 thumping of Southampton three days ago helped the Londoners into the last 16 of the FA Cup and ensured that their season remains alive on three fronts.
A huge challenge awaits in the Champions League in the coming weeks as Arsenal face off against Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the competition, which they must balance between league games and that FA Cup fifth-round tie at minnows Sutton United - quite a contrast in calibre of opponents! The Premier League is at the centre of attention for now as, while Chelsea may be eight points clear, the more optimistic of Gunners fans expect that gap to be closed to just the two points by the end of the week.
That is because leaders Chelsea follow up today's trip to Anfield with a home tie against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon - two games which will decide whether the title race is realistically prolonged beyond the first week of February. Arsenal will feel confident heading into that huge showdown in West London, though they simply must pick up all three points this evening to keep that feelgood factor going. Anything less, coupled with a Blues win elsewhere tonight, it is surely game over.
Bar a blip in mid-December, when losing back-to-back away games at Everton and Manchester City, Arsenal have been in impressive form over the past few months. There was also a thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth, yet even that would have felt like a victory having trailed by three goals at one point. Two defeats in 20 since their opening-game defeat to Liverpool has seen them remain in the hunt for the title, while also keeping the pressure off Wenger's shoulders - for now!
Arsenal have been particularly impressive in attack, where they are on course to surpass their previous best scoring tally across a whole season. Giroud has taken over from Sanchez - who is still chipping in with goals, albeit from a deeper position - while Welbeck and Walcott also made goalscoring returns at the weekend. Perez also linked up well with his forward teammates at St Mary's and has showed the odd glimmer of real quality, yet for all this it still feels like the Gunners rely on Messrs. Ozil and Sanchez when the going gets tough.
It was Sanchez who kept his cool to score the decisive winning penalty eight minutes into added time against Burnley here last time out, coming after the visitors had themselves converted from the spot a few moments beforehand. That match was a real thriller - its conclusion, at least - with the result ensuring that the Gunners moved back into second place following Tottenham's draw with Man City. It remains incredibly tight at the top end, however, as fifth-placed Man City are just four points worse off.
Arsenal required a 98th penalty from Alexis Sanchez to overcome Burnley last time out in the Premier League. The Gunners may have done it the hard way, but scoring late is a healthy habit that they have made the most of in recent weeks; that latest victory making it four in their last five. Another tonight and they could potentially close the gap on leaders Chelsea to five points, depending on how they fare against Liverpool at Anfield.
DID YOU KNOW? Arsenal have won five league games in a row at the Emirates Stadium and are unbeaten in 10 stretching back to the opening weekend of the season. It has also been seven matches since they last conceded a goal from open play here - the last four goals all coming from penalties - and the Gunners are also on a league-best run of scoring in 13-successive matches on home soil.
This is turning back into a fortress of sorts, then, but as well as making the most of home games Arsenal have also developed a real knack for scoring late goals. Call it "character", as Wenger so often does, or call it "luck", as fans of rival sides often do, but there is no disputing that the Gunners play right until that final whistle. They have bagged an unrivalled six goals in the 90th minute or later this season in the Premier League alone, as well as scoring 12 in the 80th minute or later.
Plenty for Watford to be fearful about, then, particularly when looking at their recent form in a little more depth. It was not so long ago that the Hornets were beating champions Leicester City to claw themselves into contention for a top-six finish. Hopes were certainly high under Mazzarri, but since that victory in mid-November they have picked up maximum points just once in 10 attempts and slipped down to 14th place in the standings.
The Hornets' only victory in their last nine outings overall came against Burton Albion in the third round of the FA Cup, but even that victory has now been forgotten about following a shocking defeat to Millwall on Sunday. That setback is still fresh in the memory, what with it being just two days ago, as a much-changed Watford side fell to a deserved 1-0 defeat at The Den. Penalty shouts or not - it was a poor display from the Prem side and they never truly deserved to win.
Mazzarri maintained after that defeat in South London that he was the right man for the job, insisting that he is at the club to keep them in the Premier League. A potential relegation fight is on the cards on recent form, though, which - coupled with exits from both domestic cup competitions - gives supporters little to be cheerful about. At worst they are left scrapping for their lives; at best a place in the higher reaches of the bottom half awaits.
The visitors still have an eight-point advantage over the bottom three, but that gap could well close as they also face Man United away in the next couple of weeks, with a home tie against Burnley in-between. Throw into the mix trips to Chelsea and Spurs before the season is out, and many of those Watford fans may well be calling for Quique Sanchez Flores to come back. Yet all it takes is one against-the-odds win, such as today at the Emirates, and all of a sudden things begin to look rosy again.
Watford have failed to score in four games during this seven-match winless league run, but Zarate and Niang - the latter of whom starts today, despite a lack of training sessions - have both been brought in this month. The Hornets did also end a run of five-successive defeats on their travels last time out when holding Bournemouth to a 2-2 draw, but it is worth mentioning that they have not won a midweek game in the top flight in 12 attempts - 2007 the last time they did so.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Arsenal have won their last seven league encounters with Watford, scoring 19 goals in the process. The Hornets did win 2-1 here in the FA Cup just over a year ago, but their last top-flight victory over the Gunners came in April 1988 - a 1-0 triumph at Highbury. The reverse fixture earlier this term finished 3-1 in the title challenger's favour.
With kickoff now a little over five minutes away at the Emirates Stadium, it is time to check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Arsene Wenger: "I believe that number-wise and quality-wise, we have what is required to do well. We are not in need of buying. On a general front it has been very quiet [in the transfer window]. That shows that there are not many players available who can strengthen English teams."
Walter Mazzarri: "When you don't win, of course you always reflect on different possibilities. Due to our situation, given injuries and that there are just two days until the next game, the manager makes the decision of putting the best possible team out in that moment."
Wenger, who has seen his side suffer just three defeats in 32 games overall this term, discussed the lack of big-name arrivals this month. The Gunners have opted against strengthening their senior fold, instead bringing in a young defender with one eye on the future, and that seems like a sensible ploy as this is notoriously a difficult time to negotiate with rivals clubs. Mazzarri has brought in a couple of attacking options, meanwhile, and Odion Ighalo has been offloaded to China for around £20m.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play, with kickoff in North London just a couple of moments away. The referee this evening, incidentally, is Andre Marriner, who has officiated two Arsenal games this season - vs. Palace and Man United - but has yet to run the rule over any Watford matches. A big evening ahead for the Gunners, who could end the night five points off leaders Chelsea if things pan out the way they envisage.
KICKOFF! We are up and running at the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal are aiming to make it eight wins from eight against Watford in the Premier League. A wet night in North London, but that should not disrupt the hosts' rhythm too much.
An early contribution from debutant Niang, who sends in a decent delivery off the wet surface for Cech to collect. A free kick is then sent in but Cech is again there to mop up the loose ball. Positive start from the visitors.
Arsenal still attempting to find their rhythm, with Watford the side making more of an impact on the game in the attacking third. Deeney is sent crashing to the ground, but Cleverley's free kick is a real shocker and drifts over the bar - neither shot nor cross.
The home side win themselves a first corner of the match, which falls awkwardly to the feet of Ramsey 25 yards from goal. He has sent one into the top corner from that range in Europe before, though on this occasion it ends well over the bar.
Gabriel gets high up on the right but his cross was not the greatest and Watford were able to defend. Ozil then looked to bend his run, only to drift just offside to see his headed pass made redundant by the official's flag.
GOAL! ARSENAL 0-1 WATFORD (YOUNES KABOUL)
That wasn't supposed to happen! Watford have their first-ever goal at the Emirates Stadium in a league match at the fourth attempt, coming via former Tottenham Hotspur defender Younes Kaboul of all people. It came from a free kick 25 yards out, with the ball deflecting off Ramsey and past Cech.
GOAL! ARSENAL 0-2 WATFORD (TROY DEENEY)
Incredible! The Hornets have themselves a second goal of the match, and it is another former Spurs player who created it. Capoue was allowed to drift past a few players unchallenged and, after seeing his shot kept out by Cech, the ball fell nicely to Deeney to tap into the net.
Janmaat is in behind and has a couple of yellow shirts to pick out, but he fails to spot any of his teammates. A chance for a third goal of the match, with just 16 minutes played, which has left the home fans airing their frustration.
Real disappointment for Ramsey, who limps down the tunnel after tweaking his hamstring - the same hamstring that helped the ball into the net for Watford's first. Wenger is already without Xhaka and Cazorla, of course, so he is thin on the ground.
ARSENAL SUB! Straight down the tunnel for Ramsey - no coming back. Oxlade-Chamberlain is on in his place, with Arsenal requiring three goals to turn this game around. They have done it before; do not bet against it happening again.
YELLOW CARD! Gabriel Paulista is shown the game's first caution for clattering into Troy Deeney. No sign of Watford relinquishing control of this match, as they continue to drive towards the home side's goal.
Prior to this match, Arsenal had not conceded a goal in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League game in 2016-17. It is also the first time that Watford have taken the lead against the Gunners in a Prem match, at what is the eighth attempt.
PENALTY APPEAL! Cheers around the Emirates Stadium as referee Andre Marriner appeared to point to the spot. He was instead signalling for a free kick to the visitors, though, as Monreal went to ground under very little - if any - contact from Cathcart.
SHOT! Capoue wins the ball back for his side and charges forward, only to see his shot well held down low by Cech. The Hornets are still pretty much on top in this match, despite Arsenal desperately requiring three goals.
Arsenal, trailing by two goals since the 13th minute, have mustered just one shot of any sort this evening - a wayward Ramsey drive early on. A nice, quiet evening for Gomes, who has shipped 23 goals in eight previous encounters with the Gunners.
A free kick is won by Arsenal in a decent crossing position. It is sent in right under the keeper's reach, however, and Gomes - under pressure from Mustafi - did enough. Four shots on target this evening, all coming from Watford players.
The Gunners still yet to get into their rhythm, which has often been the case in recent weeks here. The difference being Watford created two chances from nowhere, both of which ended in the net to punish their opponents early on.
SAVE! Another Watford attempt on goal, this time from Prodl as he sends a looping header under the bar for Cech to desperately help over. Good inroads made by Capoue down the left, given too much room to get a cross in.
Watford cause panic from the corner, too, as Britos smashes a loose ball towards goal. Cech may have had it covered at his near post, but he was not required as Giroud produced a big block to keep the scoreline down to two goals.
SAVE! This is pretty incredible. It is pure domination from the Hornets, as they again come close to a third. Arsenal all over the place in midfield, as Janmaat and Deeney take it in turns to bully their way through, before the former produces another top save out of Cech.
Niang, whose last appearance came for Milan against Napoli 10 days ago, pulls the trigger but is well wide of target from range. Still waiting for the Gunners to get out of first gear, with half time now just a few minutes away.
A definite improvement for Arsenal over the past couple of minutes, as the ball is passed around well and then sent towards Sanchez inside the box. The Chilean's first touch lets him down, though, as Coquelin sends a pass straight out of play.
Real tension around the Emirates Stadium, as Ozil sends a cross straight through the box and out of play - poor. Wenger needs to take action at the break or else the title race could well be over before February is even here.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 0-2 WATFORD
Referee Andre Marriner brings the opening 45 minutes to a close. Watford, incredibly, take a two-goal lead into the break thanks to a storming start to the match at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal have failed to get into the game since then, and may well have gone into the interval three down had Petr Cech not pulled off a couple of decent stops.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Younes Kaboul scored the first of Watford's early goals, driving a free kick past the reach of Petr Cech thanks to a wicked deflection off Aaron Ramsey. It was another foe of the Gunners', Etienne Capoue, who created the second after making good inroads through a non-existent Arsenal midfield and defence. The Frenchman was allowed to waltz in on goal only to see his shot kept out by Cech, but Troy Deeney found himself well positioned to score from the rebound.
Watford had never previously scored a Premier League goal at the Emirates Stadium and had never led in a Prem game against their London rivals, but a storming start to the match put that right. It was certainly a shock to the system for the Gunners, who had not shipped a goal inside the opening 15 minutes all term prior to this evening, and they struggled to find any sort of rhythm in the remainder of the first half.
Under-fire Watford boss Walter Mazzarri would have been disappointed to see his charges go into the interval with just a two-goal advantage, in fact, as Cech did well to keep out on-target attempts from Capoue, Sebastian Prodl and Daryl Janmaat. The visitors were bullying their opponents at times, winning all the 50-50 challenges which inevitably led to jeers as Arsenal's players made their way off the field for half time.
Arsene Wenger, up in the stands for the second of his four-match touchline ban, will no doubt have plenty to say at the break. Arsenal are not quite out of this one as 45 minutes remain, but they offered so very little in the first half to suggest that a comeback is on the cards at the Emirates Stadium.
ARSENAL SUBS: Ospina, Gibbs, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles, Lucas Perez, Walcott
WATFORD SUBS: Arlauskis, Mariappa, Mason, Watson, Doucoure, Success, Okaka
RESTART! No surprise to see Arsene Wenger make a change at the break, and no great surprise to see fit-again Theo Walcott come on. Olivier Giroud is the man to make way, with Oxlade-Chamberlain pushing further forward through the middle.
Far more impetus shown by Arsenal already in this second half. Half a chance for Walcott, who lets the ball run in front of him and blasts behind the target. His teammates were a little unhappy, but that is much better from the home side.
Janmaat clips the ball into the box, but it is far too close to Cech and he is able to collect. It appears as though Watford are going to continue to attack, rather than sitting back and protecting their two-goal lead.
SAVE! Huge chance for Walcott to get Arsenal right back into the match. Sanchez takes on two men down the left and lays it off to Ozil, who simply helped the ball across to Walcott who was given a clean shot at goal, but Gomes kept it out with his feet.
Arsenal have created two chances in the opening nine minutes of this second half - two chances more than they created in the entirety of the first. Had Walcott buried that chance it would have been game on, but Gomes did very well.
SAVE! He has grown to hate Arsenal down the years, having conceded 23 times against them in eight appearances, but Gomes has produced a second top save in the space of a few minutes. Iwobi was played in but he was kept out by the Brazilian's good reactions.
SAVE! A real onslaught on that Watford goal now, as Ozil smashes the ball towards goal. A simpler stop for Gomes to make on this occasion, but he also had to get up and pounce on the loose ball. Arsenal just cannot seem to find that breakthrough.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-2 WATFORD (ALEX IWOBI)
Arsenal have done enough to score three goals already in this second half - well they now have the first of them. Moments after being denied what looked a clear penalty on initial viewing, Sanchez did brilliantly down the right-hand side and picked out Iwobi, who sent the ball trickling over the line. Game on!
That is now three goals and three assists for Sanchez in this fixture. It could be a huge goal in the context of things, too, as Arsenal are still in the ascendancy and certainly look to have a couple more in them at this rate.
Nice play from Iwobi down the left, but his deflected attempt ends in the hands of Gomes. Watford really struggling to get out of their own box in this second half, so surprised to see Mazzarri hold off making a change.
WATFORD SUB! Here comes that first Watford change - Doucoure comes on for Behrami in midfield. Just seen a replay of that penalty appeal, which does not really matter now, but Marriner did appear to get it right - Sanchez was looking for the pen.
YELLOW CARD! Barely a chance to breath in this explosive second half - the heavy rain only adding to it. Capoue saw a decision go against him when looking to add a third for Watford, before Prodl took out Sanchez for a yellow. Lucas is on for Coquelin - Arsenal's last change.
WATFORD SUB! Arsenal not as dominant as they were in the build-up to their first goal, as Watford now look to make the most of their chances to break. The Hornets yet to get a shot on target in this second half, as Niang is replaced by Success.
Watford's defenders certainly earning their money in this second half, as they deal with a bombardment of balls into the box. Arsenal no longer creating chances like they were in the opening 15 minutes of the half, but they still look dominant.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fouls Cleverley which gives the Hornets a chance to eat up some time and grab their breath. The English midfielder is down receiving some treatment, but the cynical Arsenal fans believe he is, to put it bluntly, faking it.
SHOT! Near enough the best of Arsenal's openings since pulling one back, but it falls to the wrong man as Gabriel gets under the ball and sends it high into the stands from 22 yards out. Less than 15 minutes to find the two goals they require!
The intensity levels have certainly dropped to the relief of Watford, but Arsenal desperately looking for a second wind. The Gunners would probably still not take a draw at this point, confident of scoring two in the final 12 minutes.
Arsenal win a free kick around 25 yards from goal, which Sanchez sends into the wall. The noise levels, much like the intensity, have dropped over the past 10 minutes. Monreal almost changed that but his bullet shot ended narrowly wide.
We are now into the final eight minutes of the game - a time that Arsenal have grown to love this term. No side has scored more than the Gunners in this period, and they also have six in the 90th minute or later. This one is not over yet!
OFF THE POST! Troy Deeney makes way for Okaka. Seconds later, a quick throw was belted against the crossbar first time by Perez. Sanchez is the latest player to be booked, meanwhile, in a crazy 60-second spell.
At a time when the game looked to be getting away from Arsenal, that Perez belter against the bar has given them renewed home once more. That finale against Burnley was lively to say the least - are we in for more of the same tonight?
YELLOW CARD! Okaka is marginally late on Mustafi and is rightly shown a yellow card by Andre Marriner. Just two minutes of normal time, plus presumably four added on, for the hosts to rescue themselves a point or more.
YELLOW CARD! Tom Cleverley is the latest Watford player to see a yellow card. Arsenal fail to make the free kick count, as their opponents stand strong. Five minutes of time have been added on at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners desperately pushing for that second goal, but they just cannot create any real clear-cut openings. They created numerous chances at 2-0, but since pulling one back their momentum has slowly faded away. Three minutes to go!
SHOT! Mustafi limps off the pitch after receiving some treatment and is not around to attack Arsenal's latest corner. Gomes flapped at it but Watford did enough to clear their line. Perez does get a shot away but it was simple for Gomes.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 1-2 WATFORD
The full-time whistle sounds at the Emirates Stadium, leading to a chorus of mass boos around the ground. Apart from in that travelling section, of course, as Watford have held on to pick up their first Premier League win over Arsenal. Goals from Younes Kaboul and Troy Deeney secured the victory, with Alex Iwobi's strike proving to be nothing more than a consolation.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the Emirates Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction aplenty from this and the evening's other Premier League games will be available elsewhere on the site over the coming hour. Thanks for joining!
