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

Arsenal grabbed their first win of the 2016-17 Premier League season on Saturday, beating Watford 3-1.

Santi Cazorla gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot. While the Gunners couldn't create much danger in the first half, a late surge led by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil ensured the side entered half-time with a three-goal lead.

Debutant Roberto Pereyra reduced the deficit in the second half, but the Gunners closed up shop after the goal.

As Arsenal's official Twitter account shared, Rob Holding made another start for the visitors, and Theo Walcott kept hold of his spot up front:

The Gunners took control of the ball early and tried to get Sanchez involved as much as possible, while Watford threatened on the counter and with high crosses coming from the wings. Chances were few in the opening stages, but after eight minutes, the Gunners were handed a penalty after a strange sequence.

Nordin Amrabat covered Sanchez, who took a knock in the head in the process and needed some treatment. As shared by Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, referee Kevin Friend had no intention of blowing the whistle at first:

Replays showed Sanchez clearly took an elbow to the head, but Friend's indecision raised a few eyebrows nonetheless. Cazorla easily converted the spot-kick to give Arsenal an early lead.

Watford had no real answers early and kept swinging in crosses, which Petr Cech easily claimed. The Gunners didn't create much either, although Ozil sent a few searching passes into Sanchez and the Hornets had to resort to several bad fouls to contain the attackers. Sebastian Prodl was booked after just 17 minutes for a foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

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Walcott drew a fine save from Heurelho Gomes after some fine work from Cazorla, and Cech did well to deny Troy Deeney, who suddenly found some space inside the box midway though the first half.

Watford started to grow into the match as the half wore on, but the Gunners doubled their lead with five minutes to play, as Sanchez produced a gorgeous finish to beat Gomes. The Chilean finished off a counter with a stunning lob, and goal-line technology confirmed the ball crossed the line, per NBC Sports Soccer:

The goal was exactly what the match needed, as the final five minutes of the half produced a lot more excitement than the first 40. Deeney and Odion Ighalo worked a nice attacking move that could have resulted in a goal had Amrabat been paying attention, and Walcott did well to draw a save from Gomes from a tight angle.

Ozil added another goal just before the half-time whistle, converting a great cross from Sanchez to all but end the contest. As Match of the Day shared, Gareth Crooks loved the German's powerful header:

Pereyra was introduced at the start of the second half for the hosts as the former Juventus man made his debut. But while the Hornets started with positive intentions, the Gunners did a fine job defending their own goal.

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Ozil and Sanchez kept looking for the counter, but the hosts changed their system to a four-man back line, and it worked wonders early.

Etienne Capoue put Cech to work with a hard drive from outside the box, before Pereyra opened his Premier League scoring account after 57 minutes, reacting well to a loose ball.

Per WhoScored.com, it didn't take the Argentinian long to find the net:

On the other side of the pitch, Walcott tried to beat Gomes with a surprise lob but sent his effort comically high over the bar. Gomes only just cleared a ball ahead of the onrushing Sanchez, and Nacho Monreal took a knock and was substituted for Kieran Gibbs.

Ighalo went close with a hard shot that cleared the crossbar, and Pereyra gave the Gunners' defence fits. Amrabat ran into a yellow card after being substituted off, continuing an afternoon of odd officiating.

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Watford went all-in with 13 minutes left to play, introducing Isaac Success, but Arsenal's defence stood firm, and Cech had no intentions of letting in another goal. He made a fine stop to deny Ighalo and watched as Valon Behrami's effort went wide.

The Gunners controlled the ball in the final minutes and comfortably played out the contest, grabbing their first win of the season in the process.

Post-Match Reaction

As reported by the Daily Mirror's Ben Welch, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger still sees plenty of room for improvement:

"

I believe we shot ourselves in the foot in the first game [against Liverpool] and were under huge pressure.

We then had two difficult away games, but today I believe we had a good solid performance.

We had a good cushion at half-time. At the moment we are not completely there physically and could see that in second half.

Ozil is not physically there completely but what we want from Ozil is assists and goals and I hope he can get that this season, 10 or 15 goals plus the chances he creates.

"

Arsenal will play host to Southampton in their next Premier League match, while Watford visit West Ham United.