Watford 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur: 5 Talking Points from the goalless draw | Premier League 2019-20

#2 Gazzaniga keeps Deeney out

Paulo Gazzaniga's penalty save kept Tottenham in today's match

It was an Argentine player in Ignacio Pussetto that saved Watford today, and the same could also be said for Tottenham, as the Hornets were awarded a penalty midway through the second half, only for Paulo Gazzaniga to make an outstanding save from Troy Deeney’s eventual spot-kick.

For once the decision to award a penalty came with no controversy; a shot from Gerard Deulofeu from just inside the box was clearly blocked by Jan Vertonghen’s hand. The Belgian defender didn’t intend to handle the ball, but his arm was certainly in an unnatural position as he slid in to make the block.

Hornets captain Deeney looked confident when he stepped up, but his penalty was hit too closely to Gazzaniga’s right, and the Spurs keeper made an impressive save, tipping the ball far out of the box too to prevent a potential follow-up.

Tottenham’s #1 – Hugo Lloris – is expected to return from his elbow injury in February, but despite this being his first clean sheet in a Premier League away match, Gazzaniga has performed admirably in the Frenchman’s absence, and today he was able to rescue a point with this penalty save.

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#3 VAR causes controversy again

Etienne Capoue could've seen red for his x-rated challenge on Japhet Tanganga

It seems like every Premier League game sees some kind of controversy involving VAR right now, and today’s match at Vicarage Road was certainly no different. The questionable incident happened in the first half, as a horribly late challenge from former Spurs midfielder Etienne Capoue on young defender Japhet Tanganga somehow went unpunished.

This was simply a terrible and reckless challenge, with the Frenchman lunging over the top of the ball and catching Tanganga on the knee with his studs, but somehow, referee Michael Oliver failed to even book him. It was understandable that Oliver missed the horrific nature of the tackle – his vision was obscured by a number of players – but surely that’s where VAR is supposed to step in?

We’ve all been led to believe that the VAR system is there to prevent clear and obvious errors, and should inform the referee of a potential red card-worthy challenge – and this was certainly one – but instead, Oliver headed to the sidelines only to change the batteries on his headset, a ridiculous situation that somehow took 3 minutes.

It’s worth mentioning that Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was dismissed for a practically identical challenge last against Crystal Palace – and in that instance, VAR upgraded a yellow card to a red one. Quite how Capoue – who has history with poor tackles, as his bad challenge on Wilfried Zaha went viral last year – stayed on the field today is anyone’s guess. Chalk up another mark against VAR.