Arsenal vs. Watford: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match

Alexis Sanchez inspired Arsenal to a 4-0 Premier League win over Watford at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, scoring the first goal and assisting the second.

The Chilean has endured a difficult second season with the Gunners, but he looked every bit the player who netted 25 times during a brilliant debut campaign in 2014/15.

Sanchez helped manager Arsene Wenger's men exact a measure of revenge for their 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat by the Hornets last month as Alex Iwobi also got a goal. It's a sign of his rapid development after he netted during the 2-0 away over Everton in Arsenal's last league outing.

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Hector Bellerin's deflected volley after the break and substitute Theo Walcott's late finish helped create a scoreline that accurately reflected how well the hosts played in the final third.

Sanchez's performance has also given a bit of impetus to Arsenal's flailing title bid. The Gunners have moved to within three points of second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but they still remain eight short of Leicester City in top spot.

It was Sanchez's combination with Danny Welbeck and Iwobi that really overwhelmed Watford and inspired some fantastic attacking football.

The trio have revived Arsenal's performances in recent weeks and earned the confidence of Wenger, evidenced by his team selection, per the team's official site:

Sanchez took less than five minutes to open the scoring after benefiting from the improved combination play of Arsenal's more fluid forward line. The ex-Barcelona man combined with burgeoning teenage star Iwobi, taking two attempts to turn in the 19-year-old Nigerian's astute cross.

As Squawka noted, Sanchez has had trouble finding the net in England's top flight this season:

But there have been signs of recovery recently from a player blighted by injury during the campaign, according to WhoScored.com:

The South American has looked revitalised since Wenger partnered him with the pace and perceptive movement of both Iwobi and Welbeck. With greater freedom to rotate positions, Sanchez is getting into central areas more often than he usually does when static target man Olivier Giroud starts.

Sanchez got his name on the scoresheet, but it was Iwobi earning the plaudits. Adam Newson of the Watford Observer was particularly impressed by the precocious attacking midfielder's creative intent:

Iwobi remained at the forefront of a relentless Arsenal attack. Welbeck was unlucky to see a deflected shot whistle narrowly past the post, while holding midfielder Francis Coquelin had a fierce shot from distance blocked.

Sanchez nearly sent the home support into raptures again, but his thunderous 25-yard free-kick was inches off target.

Despite the missed chances, the unpredictable movement of the Gunners' front three continued to give the visitors fits. Watford's official site detailed one typical move that showcased this clever movement and passing at work:

On this form it was just a matter of time before Arsenal scored again. The roles from the first goal were reversed when Sanchez played a smart pull-back for Iwobi to slot home for his second league goal in as many games.

Dion Dublin offered a worthy description on BBC's final score, per Match of the Day:

If there was a hallmark to Arsenal's dominant first-half display, it was the assurance of Wenger's players in possession. The Gunners passed the ball around with confidence, always playing between the lines and keeping things moving forward.

No player exemplified these qualities more than Egyptian midfield man Mohamed Elneny, per James Benge of the London Evening Standard:

The January signing's quick adaptation to England's top flight has given Arsenal the clever ball player in deep midfield areas the squad has lacked while Santi Cazorla remains injured.

The half-time break proved to be the briefest of reprieves for sluggish Watford. It took less than three minutes of the restart for Bellerin to volley Arsenal's third, albeit with the aid of a deflection off midfielder Ben Watson.

Once again, Sanchez was at the heart of the move, combining smartly with the cheetah-fast full-back in the build-up.

Bellerin has become a prolific attacking outlet in recent matches, something detailed by Squawka:

It should have been four seconds later when Iwobi thumped a shot off the bar, but Mesut Ozil fluffed his lines horribly at the rebound.

That miss might have proved costly had it not been for some heroic defensive work from a pair of Gunners, first left-back Nacho Monreal cleared Sebastian Prodl's header off the line.

Later, goalkeeper David Ospina, still deputising for Petr Cech, made a splendid diving save to deny powerful Hornets' striker Troy Deeney.

Wenger took the cue from those rare threatening moments from Watford to freshen up his attack. Olivier Giroud replaced Welbeck, while Walcott stepped in for Iwobi.

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Joel Campbell soon came on for Sanchez, who had run the Watford defence ragged. It was fitting that his exit saw the game become a little stale.

But there was still time for Walcott to bag a fourth and give the Gunners the scoreline their awesome performance merited. He tapped over the line after fine work from the creative Campbell.

Post-Match Reaction

Not surprisingly, WD Sport noted how Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores is likely to take a very dim view of his side's drubbing:

By contrast, Wenger was understandably thrilled with his team's bright display:

Perhaps as a reference to the key factor in the stylish football Arsenal produced, Wenger singled out Elneny for some deserved praise:

The result will offer a massive fillip to Arsenal's previously mediocre goal difference. But Wenger will likely look at days like this and wonder how his team are barely clinging on in the title race.

As for Watford, the Hornets looked like their minds are fully focused on the upcoming FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.