EPL 2017/18: Watford 2-1 Arsenal: 5 Talking Points

With both Watford and Arsenal vying to move into fourth place in the league following this game, the stakes were pretty high at Vicarage Road for both sides.

Arsenal named a side without Alexis Sanchez, Shkodran Mustafi and Aaron Ramsey, but looked to have a particularly strong bench including the likes of Mesut Ozil. They took the lead late in the first half through a Per Mertesacker header and seemed to be in control at half-time.

The game would turn on its head though after a controversial penalty call allowed Troy Deeney to equalise, and from there Arsenal wilted as Watford grew stronger. In the end Tom Cleverley decided the game with a goal in injury time to send Marco Silva’s boys into the Champions League spots.

This was a painful loss for Arsenal, while for Watford, it’s a win their fans will relish for some time. Here are the five biggest talking points from the game.

#5 Is Silva Time the new Fergie Time?

In seasons past, Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United side were renowned for scoring late, late goals to steal points that appeared lost, to the point that fans christened injury time “Fergie Time”. This season though it seems more like injury time should be renamed as “Silva Time”.

Watford have now taken seven points from their last three games thanks to goals that have come after the 90-minute mark; there was Richarlison’s 90th-minute winner at Swansea, his equaliser in the 95th minute against West Brom, and now Cleverly’s 92nd minute winner today.

What does this mean? Simply put, opponents just can’t rest against the Hornets as Silva’s charges have proven time after time that a game is never truly beyond them. It’s a very enviable feature of the team and shows the desire that Watford’s players have to not let their manager down.

#4 Why didn’t Wenger unleash Jack Wilshere?

Jack Wilshere was left on the bench against Watford, angering Arsenal's fans

Although they went into the second half in the lead, it was quite clear from a flat first half that Arsenal were lacking in the creative department. Alexandre Lacazette, Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck barely had a goalscoring chance between them in the first 45 minutes thanks to a distinct lack of spark in the middle.

Arsene Wenger attempted to change this in the second half by introducing Mesut Ozil for the injured Welbeck, but although he did set up a chance for Iwobi, his impact wasn’t exactly earth-shattering. Wenger did, however, have Jack Wilshere on the bench. Wilshere is now fit and ready to play and was outstanding in Arsenal’s wins over Doncaster and BATE Borisov.

The fans were chanting his name, but instead of bringing him on when the game was in flux, Wenger instead introduced Rob Holding – a defender. The fans responded by chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing”, and that may well prove to be true if Wenger keeps refusing to gamble on one of his most talented players. Wilshere could’ve won this game for Arsenal.

#3 Was it really a penalty?

Richarlison earned a soft penalty that changed the game

The most controversial talking point of the game will obviously be the incident that led to Watford’s equaliser through a Troy Deeney penalty in the second half. While there was no question over Deeney’s finish, whether Richarlison was truly fouled in the penalty area is another thing.

The Brazilian had been Watford’s brightest spark throughout the game, but the way he flung himself to the ground under the challenge of Hector Bellerin looked suspect and probably won’t earn him any new fans from the neutral crowd.

Replays appeared to show minimal contact and so Arsenal fans may have a right to feel aggrieved, especially given the penalty was the turning point in the game and allowed Watford to take over momentum and eventually get the winner.

#2 Do Watford have enough going forward to really succeed?

Andre Gray looked isolated throughout the first half

Watford currently sit in 4th place, probably a lot higher in the table that even their most optimistic fans would’ve hoped prior to the beginning of the season. It’s pretty clear that new boss Marco Silva is doing a great job at one of the Premier League’s smaller clubs.

Despite winning today’s game though, Watford struggled for large portions of the first half in particular, especially when it came to going forward. They had plenty of possession in the first 45, but by the hour mark they still hadn’t had a shot on target and lone striker Andre Gray seemed thoroughly isolated.

Silva has done a great job with Watford’s midfield – bringing in Richarlison and Nathaniel Chalobah (absent today due to injury) have proved to be excellent moves, but to really succeed going forward – and to change that zero goal difference – he might need to look at buying a better, more mobile forward in January.

#1 What’s the deal with Mesut Ozil?

Mesut Ozil had another disappointing performance in an Arsenal shirt

The German international had been labelled as “still one of the best players in the world” by Arsene Wenger going into this game, but he started on the bench and although he was introduced in the second half for the injured Danny Welbeck, Ozil didn’t have the impact he must’ve wanted.

He did set up a chance for Alex Iwobi, but when Iwobi returned the favour just minutes later, Ozil fired a clear-cut chance directly at Watford keeper Huerelho Gomes and allowed him an easy save. Seconds later Watford were awarded the fateful penalty that changed the game.

Prior to this game, Ozil had become a peripheral figure at Arsenal anyway – the Gunners had won 5 of 6 games since their disastrous loss to Liverpool, with Ozil only featuring for 7 minutes throughout. With the January transfer window creeping up, Ozil may have reached the end of the line at Arsenal, and judging on this season’s performances, I’m not sure if fans would even miss him.